Why Do Seniors Volunteer?
Google gives these reasons: It’s good for mental health as you increase your community involvement and awareness; it prevents loneliness and isolation as you get to make new friends due to increasing your social activity; it gives a feeling of purpose and fulfillment as you acquire new skills; and results in a positive impact both physically and mentally.
McKee 50+ Senior’s Center presently has 1174 members. Understandably most 50 to 65 years old individuals are still in the work force, therefore, the 66 to 80 years old members make up 64% of the membership.
Talking with Russell in Mr. Mom’s Kee Café, he has nothing but good things to say about his fifteen café service volunteers: ‘They think about things to improve the running of the café and are so great with the customers.’ They gather for a “meeting of the minds” on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons after their shift, where you will hear much chuckling and observe their smiling faces. Obviously, this is a group of people, old friends and new, who enjoy each other’s company.
The eleven Special Events Volunteers can be seen decorating the glass cabinet at the front of the building for events such as Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas (to mention a few). Clearly, these individuals enjoy this task and each other, as you can hear through their chatter, laughter and sometimes a minor disagreement about if something should go here/there or in what order but it’s all in good fun!
Besides the City staff and cashiers who are all wonderful people, we have eleven committed front desk customer-member service volunteers who are the face of McKee as you enter the building.
We all have different reasons why we applied to volunteer at McKee but no matter what the reason please know that you and the time you give to McKee is truly appreciated.
Marcia says that ,“after retiring and moving to a new area I wanted to do more volunteering and McKee was close to home but more importantly it would be a great place to meet new people.” Jackie had moved from Vancouver to Ladner in 2021 and a year later, almost to the day, decided for similar reasons as Marcia to check out McKee. She had recently stepped down from volunteering with an organization that she had been involved in for many years.
The Café needs a couple more people and the Front Desk can certainly use two or three more. The café volunteers shifts are approximately 3 hours and the front desk volunteer shifts are up to 4 hours.
We look forward to seeing you the next time you’re coming in to attend something that you enjoy doing at the Center with the hopes that you might consider dropping by the front desk and asking for a Volunteer Application Form.
Cheers,
Jackie L and Marcia S – Front Desk Customer-Member Services Co-Liaisons
