AARP's National Day of Service

AARP has a deep commitment to community service. Our founder, Ethel Percy Andrus, set the course with our motto: "To serve, not to be served." From the beginning, this guiding principle has shaped our community service programs and activities.

Through the annual AARP Day of Service (DoS), held on the second Thursday each May, AARP "walks the talk" by closing its office doors and redirecting its staff and "family of volunteers" across the country to work on various Day of Service community projects. This one-day event demonstrates not only AARP's commitment to and belief in the importance of community service, but also the difference just one day's collective effort can make in a community.

Plans are well underway for this year's Day of Service. AARP staff and volunteers will be doing a variety of projects at food banks, homeless shelters, schools, senior centers, assisted living facilities, and other organizations. They'll be out in the community sharing information, providing hands-on assistance and simple acts of kindness to others who want and need some assistance. As with AARP's advocacy and educational campaigns, AARP's community service activities are meant to help improve the life of others.

Approximately 13,000 AARP volunteers (across the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) participated in last year's Day of Service activities – up by almost 100% from nearly 6,700 volunteers for DoS 2003. On the Day of Service and every day, these volunteers are making a difference in their communities. AARP applauds their commitment and ongoing service to communities.

What You Can Do for the AARP Day of Service

If you are an AARP volunteer and wish to participate in the Day of Service 2005 activities in your state, check with your volunteer leader to see how you might get involved.

If you are not an AARP volunteer but would like to support AARP's Day of Service, we encourage you to volunteer with an organization of your choice. Many organizations (religious institutions, senior centers, food pantries, schools, parks, recreational centers, etc.) would welcome your help, individually or as a group. An elderly or handicapped person in your community might benefit from your help that day with errands, household chores, and other tasks.

There are many ways you can provide support for others in your community on the Day of Service and any other day. Use our free online volunteer resource to see a listing of current volunteer opportunities in your community. Your help is always needed!

A Legacy of Service

For several decades, with the combined efforts of AARP staff and 40,000+ program volunteers, AARP has been and continues to be a leading resource in communities, providing assistance with tax preparation, driver education, job training and placement for older workers, and money management. In some states, AARP members also serve as volunteer caregivers by helping older and disabled neighbors with such simple daily activities as taking them to a doctor's appointment or visiting with them.

And throughout the years, AARP has continued to engage and support AARP chapter and NRTA members in many local and state-level projects to help address key needs in communities. Each year, over 2.5 million people nationwide are helped by AARP's community service programs and activities.