National Volunteer Week Toolkit
Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week is designed to honor the impact of volunteers in our communities, and inspire others to serve. Every year thousands of volunteer projects and special events are scheduled throughout the week. Since National Volunteer Week was established more has been learned about the value volunteers bring to the Aging Network and the significant health benefits volunteerism provides to those who volunteer. In fact recent research demonstrates that volunteering expands opportunities for social engagement for older adults, decreasing the impact of social isolation and older adults who volunteer show improved cognition, emotional and physical health.
It is estimated that at least 90,000 volunteers assist Areas Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in serving older adults nationwide. National Volunteer Week provides the Aging Network with an excellent opportunity to thank those who give so generously of their time and talents and to educate the public about the crucial role volunteers play in helping AAAs meet their mission. To help you recognize your volunteers and the contributions they make, USAging has developed a public education toolkit to help you tell the story of the positive impact volunteers make in your community.
The toolkit includes:
Infographic - Use for social media outreach, public presentations, etc.
PowerPoint Presentation - Explain the importance of AAA volunteer programs to key stakeholders
Press Release Template - Generate local media coverage for your agency and volunteers
Aging Network Volunteer Spotlight – for examples of how to recognize volunteers who are making a difference in your communities we have included the following profiles of some amazing volunteers