Retirement doesn’t mean you have to slow down or give up on making an impact. In fact, your golden years are a golden opportunity to learn something new or to create positive change in the community. We’re spotlighting two organizations that help older adults stay active and engaged on their own terms.
assistance league of st. louis
During its last fiscal year, the Assistance League of St. Louis and its nearly 500 members logged more than 68,500 volunteer hours, serving more than 30,000 St. Louisans. Those numbers represent a strong commitment to transforming lives. For almost 40 years, the nonprofit has used its community programs to make a tangible impact on the region. One of the largest chapters in the national Assistance League organization, the nonprofit is operated entirely by volunteers, and it’s evident those members are dedicated.
While everyone is welcome to join the Assistance League, president-elect Sandy Brody notes that the majority of its members are retired. She herself joined the nonprofit after leaving the education field. “I was an assistant principal in the Valley Park School District, and the Assistance League delivered coats for students who needed them,” she explains. “When I retired, I was looking for a way to remain involved in the community, and the rest is history.”
Since the organization is run by volunteers, it offers a great opportunity for retired individuals to use their skills and experience to support the St. Louis community. One of the Assistance’s League major programs is upscale resale shop Fantastic Finds in Creve Coeur. “Not only do we need people to work the sales floor and help customers, we need volunteers with business, technology and planning skills,” Brody explains. “It takes all kinds of volunteers to make our programs possible.”
The Assistance League’s community initiatives address several important needs. Operation School Bell provides clothing and accessories to students, Books from Friends distributes age-appropriate books to kids and youth, Project Rose works with women in shelters and survivors of sexual assault, the outreach program offers support to families in crisis, and the nonprofit works with St. Louis Community College to provide scholarships. “We are a working organization, so members find a variety of tasks to keep interested,” Brody says. “We just adopted a new strategic plan, so we’re reimagining the way we continue to serve the community.”
The Assistance League will host an orientation for new volunteers in August. To learn more and register, visit alstl.org.
st. louis oasis
Founded in 1982 by Marylen Mann, St. Louis Oasis has been on the forefront of learning and engagement for older adults for decades. The nonprofit is dedicated to promoting healthy aging through lifelong learning, active lifestyles and volunteer engagement. “Research shows that cognitive stimulation, physical activity and a sense of purpose play a critical role in healthy aging,” president Paul Weiss explains. “We fight against the notion that older adults are cognitively brittle—contrary to popular belief, you can teach an old dog new tricks.”
A big piece of St. Louis Oasis mission is offering a wide variety of classes in topics like arts, history, foreign languages, technology, current events and more. The courses are offered in-person and online to make them accessible to more people. There are no requirements for participating in Oasis programming—although, Weiss notes that much of it takes place on weekdays, making it ideal for retirees. “It’s difficult to imagine someone who can’t find something to get excited about in our catalog,” he says.
The second focus of St. Louis Oasis mission is promoting an active lifestyle. It offers evidence-based health programming, such as education, nutrition, fall prevention and exercise classes and clubs like walking, biking, tai chi and yoga. Since all the programming is tailored to older adults, it can be a better fit than a commercial gym environment. “Some of our most popular classes are centered around exercise,” Weiss says. “We provide a thoughtful approach to fitness that encourages older adults to feel better and to be more active.”
St. Louis Oasis also offers the opportunity for older adults to give back to the community. It connects older adults with students in kindergarten through grade three for tutoring, and the Grand Champions program pairs volunteers with children in foster care to offer a one-on-one mentor relationship. Give 5 is a community-based initiative that connects soon-to-be-retirees and retirees with meaningful volunteer opportunities that best fit their skill sets and passions. “It’s a really great way to connect with local nonprofits,” Weiss notes.
For a full schedule of St. Louis Oasis classes and events, visit st-louis.oasisnet.org.
