FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JANUARY 4, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 7
Volunteering: A New Year’s
resolution worth keeping
Center recruits and places
committed New Yorkers
throughout the five boroughs.
If you have three hours a month
or three days a week to give, we
can find a volunteer opportunity
that is right for you.
The Volunteer Resource
Center is currently looking for
retirees and others who would
like to put their professional
expertise to good use by
helping senior centers organize
and lead fitness classes, track
seniors’ blood pressure, and
perform administrative tasks.
If you prefer a one-on-one
service opportunity, DFTA’s
Friendly Visiting Program
can pair you with homebound
older adults. Volunteers visit
the seniors for weekly social
interactions and to help run
errands, forming a friendship
in the process.
In 2017, DFTA volunteers
provided approximately 11,150
hours of service to older New
Yorkers. During the holidays
alone, these volunteers spent 105
hours packing and preparing
meals for Thanksgiving events
at senior centers around the city.
DFTA volunteers also served
at dozens of Christmas and
Hanukkah celebrations.
The desire to do something
kind for others often takes
hold during the holidays, but
feelings of goodwill don’t have
to end there. I encourage you
to start thinking about how you
will continue to give your time
in 2018.
Wishing everyone a
HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
As we make our New Year’s
resolutions, I encourage you to
join me in adding “giving back”
to your list. Volunteering your
time offers myriad rewards,
including making a difference
in someone’s life, building
a sense of community and
personal accomplishment, and
improving your health.
With nearly 20 percent of
Americans expected to be age
60 or older by 2030, it makes
sense that we utilize this
untapped reservoir of talent
and consider this an asset to
volunteerism.
One of the Department for
the Aging’s goals is to increase
volunteerism by older adults
and that benefits this group.
DFTA’s Volunteer Resource
If you would like to volunteer
with DFTA, visit nyc.gov/aging
to sign up for an information
session, email volunteer@
aging.nyc.gov, or call 311.
DONNA CORRADO,
Commissioner of the City’s
Department for the Aging
2017 was a great year. We’re looking forward to an even better 2018.