AARP Lifeat50 Event Makes Miami Even Better
When AARP Lifeat50 comes to town for a national convention, they leave the community a better place. This week, over 20,000 people will converge on the Miami Convention Center to participate in meaningful volunteerism helping seniors and to discover the latest innovations, job opportunities and proactive endeavors initiated by the AARP. The national events that happen twice a year are focused on five themed educational tracks:
- Arts & Culture
- Health & Wellness
- Money & Work
- Technology & Innovation
- Travel & Leisure
In 1958, AARP’s first president had the vision of aligning older Americans as “an army of useful citizens”. 57 years later, it’s more than just seniors involved in the organization. We observed about an equal balance of young and retired volunteers participating in the Celebration of Service in Miami. Here we’ll talk about AARP volunteerism opportunities at retirement:
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES DURING AARP NATIONAL EVENT
The year’s event kicked with a Celebration of Service where volunteers had the choice of participating in four ways to help seniors during the three days:
- Hands on improvements to one of three homes in the local Miami area in harmony with Rebuilding Together, an organization committed to safe and healthy homes for seniors.
- Packaging produce at the event to be delivered to at-risk seniors by the Society of St. Andrew, an organization that collects fresh produce from local farmers.
- Packaging 450 FEMA emergency preparedness kits at the event for seniors who don’t have the ability or resources to collect these items in the event of weather emergencies.
- Create greeting cards at the event for seniors experiencing loneliness at local nursing and veterans facilities.
- Healthy meal packing in harmony with South Florida Food Bank.
Chase Credit Cards presented a $300,000 check to the AARP Foundation during the morning kick off presentation.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE PEACE CORP & IESC
Retirees are among the most popular group of people who vacation abroad and often seek communities in need to ‘give back’. AARP has aligned with the Peace Corps & IESC to offer members international volunteer opportunities abroad. Peace Corps offers two year programs as well as shorter 3-12 month programs in more than 60 countries around the world. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Helene Dudley shared her insight by saying “The Peace Corp is like getting a masters degree in your head living abroad.” Dudley shared that most volunteers feel they gain more from the experience than the gave.
There is no cost to participate in Peace Corps and all expenses including food, travel, health care, prescription drug and housing are provided. IESC pays for for airfare, transportation, 3 star hotel accommodations, meals, vaccinations and medical. The intention is to make it a zero out of pocket cost to the volunteer while abroad. These assignments provide the platform to share skills sets in an environment where they are respected and valued.
All of the above organizations have information booths in the Exhibit Hall to learn more. Be part of something special at retirement and make your way to Miami or any of the AARP Lifeat50 National Events.
For more info: http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/events/
