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A chance to teach — and to learn

AARP volunteers tap into a range of topics.

Jaime Sarrio,

AARP

Published May 01, 2026

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Carolyn B. Parks spends a few hours each week as an AARP volunteer driving around metro Atlanta to deliver talks on topics ranging from fraud prevention, to health and wellness, to caregiving, to Social Security.

It may seem like Parks, 72, has all the answers, but the Snellville resident says she is still learning — both from the presentations she shares and the people she meets. Since she began volunteering with AARP four years ago, she’s updated her diet and exercise routine, learned how to prioritize her brain health to avoid burnout, and met inspiring people navigating common issues as they age.

“As much as I teach or deliver, I learn,” she says.

She’s also been able to put things in perspective: “Sometimes you think you’re the only one going through things. ... I’ve learned that I’m not alone.”

ADVANCING THE MISSION

Such is the life of an AARP volunteer — people like Parks who have given over much of their free time to advance the organization’s mission and expand its impact across the state. In addition to public speakers, AARP needs volunteers to support a range of activities, including events, caregiving projects and legislative advocacy.

“Our volunteers make our work possible and more impactful,” says Vanessa J. Payne, AARP Georgia state director. “They are partners in our mission and ambassadors in their communities.”

In February, for example, volunteers from AARP Georgia made Valentine’s Day cards and delivered flowers to hundreds of older residents. Others from Macon and Atlanta met with legislators at the Georgia State Capitol to advocate on utility costs, cryptocurrency fraud and support for caregivers.

Rob Alexander, 75, has volunteered with AARP for around 10 years and says it allows him to use strengths cultivated during his professional career. The resident of College Park in suburban Atlanta spent his working years in IT and now trains AARP volunteers on how to use the organization’s digital resources. This year, he’s stepping into a new role on AARP Georgia’s volunteer Executive Council.

Alexander says he’s seen volunteers translate their professional experience into valuable learning opportunities for the community. For example, he remembers a former home builder who taught sessions on how to modify houses to make them more accessible and livable for older adults.

Alexander recommends volunteers give themselves time to try different activities and learn what opportunities are available.

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“Depending on what you want to do, you can find opportunity,” he says.

He adds, “AARP is really pushing for volunteers to take more of a leadership role. If you ... say, ‘I was a leader in the corporate arena, and now I want to do the same thing here,’ there probably is a way.”

FROM ONE CAREER TO A NEW ONE

Despite plans to “do absolutely nothing,” Parks jumped back into volunteer work just two weeks after retirement in 2018. In 2022, AARP recruited her to visit libraries, churches and civic groups, sharing information on issues that matter most to older adults.

Parks was recently named state lead for the Speakers Bureau, so in addition to giving presentations, she will be looking for volunteers to fill the numerous requests AARP receives for speakers each month. She says volunteers should be honest about the time they are willing to commit, even if it’s only once a month, so that they can be relied on for opportunities.

“I would advise anybody to be realistic and set boundaries,” she says. “I tell people to be truthful with yourself about your time.”

Parks says she was raised to value learning and service — and while she volunteers with other organizations, she has made AARP her primary commitment because she feels like she is really helping others.

She points to a man in his 20s she met while teaching a brain health course at a local library. He had suffered severe brain damage from a car accident two years before and struggled to ask questions about the presentation; it frustrated him and his mother.

Rather than rushing him, Parks encouraged him to take his time.

When the presentation was over, Parks says the young man found her, grabbed both of her hands and with tears in his eyes said, “Thank you.” He promised to find her when he was better.

“I cried, of course,” she says. But the episode made everything worthwhile.

“Sometimes we think we’re just delivering a presentation — and you are affecting people’s lives,” she says.

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Tips from Volunteers

Interested in volunteering? There are a range of options to do so.

Start with your strengths and experience. What previous work did you most enjoy? Where did you feel the most useful?
Consider your comfort level. Don’t sign up for public speaking if you don’t enjoy it. Try another role instead.
Take time to find your lane. Try a few different activities and don’t be discouraged if you don’t find the perfect fit on day one.
Start small. Don’t overcommit — it’s better to say no than cancel at the last minute.

For more on volunteering with AARP, see aarp.org/volunteer.

For more information on becoming an AARP Georgia volunteer, contact gaaarp@aarp.org or 866-295-7281.

More AARP Volunteering Resources

Jaime Sarrio is a writer, editor and communications consultant who covers state and local government, women's health, education, fraud and other topics. She has written for the Bulletin since 2025.