Retiring in Wallingford: Navigating Volunteer Opportunities

Navigating all the volunteer opportunities available, not just for seniors!

When I made the decision to retire after being part of my community as a small business owner for almost 20 years, I will be honest: it was not easy. I think the 2020 national shutdown and the Covid pandemic pushed my decision and direction. I had not planned to move across the country, give up everything, and start over again at 66 years old. What those couple of years living in Upstate New York showed me was, at the end of the day, my wants and needs had changed. My daughter was in constant worry that something was going to happen to me and she could not be there to help me. I felt the same with her. She has great friends, a job that accommodated the changes to the workplace, and had found herself as a brand-new homeowner after 20 years as a renter. She was settled in and I was not feeling settled at all. She kept telling me to come to Seattle and create a new life near her. When you are older, it is not as easy to create friendships, when you are not in the workplace bonding with your colleagues. I had the responsibilities of running my own shop, and knew I was not interested in working for someone again. I was ready for no responsibilities. I was just going to find myself a little volunteer gig and catch up on some reading, or just some of my favorite British TV shows.

When you move to a new place as an outsider, it is a must to find something that excites you, especially if you are retired and out of the workplace. There are so many opportunities to volunteer, and I had always a been a volunteer, starting at age 14 and continuing to now at almost 69 years old. I actually finished my degree in social work, and my final thesis was on the history of volunteering in the US. Most folks do not know that there is not a country in the world that has a culture and history of volunteering than the United States.

I knew that to be able to integrate into a new community as a retired senior, I needed to find a volunteer job to get me out and about, and to still be able to contribute my experience and knowledge that I spent my lifetime achieving. Before I even moved, I started to do online searches for local volunteer opportunities that were walkable or by bus from my soon-to-be new home. I actually got my new apartment two months before my move. It was important to already have the place to have things delivered to. My first volunteer gig was at FamilyWorks at 1501 N 45^th Street in Wallingford. They have a food bank for in-person shopping three days a week, and they have incredible outreach and delivery programs. Volunteering in today’s world is like applying for a job. I actually had to update my resume—since I worked for myself for 20 years it was pretty outdated. I went through an in-person interview, and the volunteer coordinator found a great job for me where I could use my experience working for four domestic violence shelters during my social work career. I started right away and felt I was making a difference. FamilyWorks does incredible work with our community, and I highly recommend this as a place to volunteer, no matter your age. Although I gave my best no matter the assignment, I decided that as a volunteer I need to have some social interaction as well, at this time in my life starting over again in a new community.

I had met some wonderful folks who volunteer at the Assistance League of Seattle Thrift Shop. That is another great opportunity, but I decided in the end that I would support them as a shopper and donor.

My next gig and current volunteer job is being on the board of Historic Wallingford. I applied to a Facebook outreach in October of 2023, and was greeted by an extraordinary assistant to the board who made me feel welcome from the first time we connected. I also volunteered for the Wallingford Parade in 2024, another opportunity for folks looking to give some time. I have also started writing for Wallyhood as a volunteer. You may be like me, scared of writing, but this has been a great chance to find my voice and share some knowledge. They are always looking for volunteer writers and editors. [Editor’s Note: contact us at [email protected].]

As urban area retirees, we must always check out our senior centers, and we are lucky to have a very active one that is housed at the Good Shepherd Center, Wallingford Community Senior Center. They are looking for volunteer board members this year. We are lucky to have the world-class Woodland Park Zoo nearby, which has an excellent volunteer program. I also heard that there are volunteers taking care of the Woodland Park Rose Garden adjacent to the zoo. Since I am new to the area, I am sure I have missed other volunteer opportunities, so please post them on in the comments for others to see and consider.

I read a great book about the decline of volunteering by political scientist Robert Putnam, called “Bowling Alone.” It describes the decrease in people belonging to service groups and volunteer networks in our communities. I am an advocate of volunteering, and most importantly taking a leadership role, not just staying on the sidelines. This can be especially valuable for young adults who are just joining the workforce. Leadership is something that will assist you throughout your life, and learning as a volunteer is wonderful skill training, as well as an asset to the organization where you choose to give some of your time.

Choosing Wallingford as my new community was the right decision for me, and I recommend volunteering to anyone who has just moved here, or if you just started thinking about giving back to a community you love. Please reach out to our local nonprofits, which I am sure have seen some cutbacks in funding and they sure could use your help and support this year. Happy Volunteering in 2025—make your community a better place with your time and experience, no matter how old you are.

Cheers!