Create the Good

By: State: Massachusetts | Source: AARP.org

Americans of all ages are coming together in service, volunteering to make our nation a better place. AARP knows that with our lifetime of skills, experience and wisdom, Boomers and older Americans have much to contribute. In fact, four in ten of us want to help even more than we do now.

AARP launched Create the Good to help our members get involved in activities that assist their neighbors and better their communities. Whether you have 5 minutes or 5 hours to serve, Create the Good may be able to connect you with just the right volunteer fit. More than 250 opportunities to make a difference are featured currently on the Create the Good website.

Legacy of Service

Service is an integral part of AARP's history.

Fifty years ago Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus founded AARP with the motto, "To serve, not to be served." In a speech about community service, she said, "The challenge to live up to our better selves, to believe well of our fellow men and perhaps by doing so to help Create the Good, to experiment, to explore, to change and to grow."

Today, more than 9 million people give back through AARP's volunteer, donor and activist networks. Our volunteer programs provide more than $137 million in economic impact—and that's just including some of our programs such as AARP Tax-Aide and AARP Driver Safety.

In Massachusetts, nearly 2,000 members are engaged as volunteers with AARP community service programs, and 48,000 more help advance issues and make their voices heard through e-advocacy.

AARP knows that many of our members want to help, but often they are caring for children and/or parents while holding down full-time jobs, or even working into retirement years. Create the Good www.aarp.org/CreateTheGood expands on traditional ways to volunteer by exploring time flexible options linked to a wide variety of topics and issues that need your help.

How Can You Create the Good?

AARP's Create the Good has many suggestions for service, including:

Help friends manage their medications

Use your financial skills to help others prepare their taxes

Start a walking group with your friends

Help a neighbor make the transition to Digital TV

Use AARP's checklists to assess a neighbor's home for safety concerns

Teach a driver safety course

Get Involved

Create the Good even has its own Online Community where members can share their volunteer experiences and get new ideas.

If you would like more information on how to Create the Good in Massachusetts, send an email to ma@aarp.org or call us toll free at 1-866-448-3621.
 
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Other Resources

State of Massachusetts Volunteer Web Portal