I'm 60 can't find a job i was let go 2 weeks ago after 1/5 years of retail i have experienced in management but can't find anything

What is a 58 year old man to do when most manufacturers want employees to work 12 hour shifts and the old body isn't what it once was? Where can I find an 8 hour a day job that pays decent wages?

Why Volunteer?

In life, everybody at one time or another needs assistance that comes from outside of themselves. Some people claim that their personal success and secure position has been justly earned without help from others along the way. However, this attitude is selfish, egotistical, and naive. Nobody makes it through life entirely on his or her own merits, even if assistance is not obvious. As a consequence, everyone has a debt to repay and a reason to give back.

In addition to fulfilling a responsibility, there are many benefits of charitable giving; primarily, it makes you happier. In fact, a Harvard Business School study confirmed that “happier people give more and giving makes people happier, such that happiness and giving may operate in a positive feedback loop."

While cash is always accepted, time and effort is just as important, if not more so. Plus, giving of your time, energy and effort provides you with immediate feedback as to what your contribution means to those receiving it.

Community Responsibility

Americans have a great capacity to accept and face challenges head-on. During time of crisis or natural disaster, many volunteer to help those affected. Those who receive help are grateful for the help, and volunteers learn that helping others makes them feel better. Consider the following as ways you can start volunteering and pay your good fortune forward.

Charity Begins at Home

In today's hectic lifestyle, the needs of family members are often overlooked. Parents busy raising their own children may forget the plight of their own parents, assuming they are capable of taking care of themselves. Many adult children presume their parents will voice their need. This is not always the case, especially when Granddad or Grandma have been independent for years. Older people – parents, aunts and uncles, long-time family friends – are often reluctant to share their growing frailty, loneliness, or isolation with their children.

Caring for elderly parents is the primary responsibility of family members, so consider the needs of your own family members first. Provide transportation to elderly parents no longer able to drive, to doctors appointments, errands or shopping trips. Help with yard work, cleaning, laundry, dishes or take out the garbage. Pick up and deliver prescriptions or medical supplies. Invite them to your child’s soccer games or other family activities. Provide an inexpensive computer with access to email and social media (and technology usage lessons). Drop by for coffee on a Saturday morning, or schedule regular visits to brighten their day.

Volunteer at Your Local School

Educators are under-staffed, overworked, stressed, and disillusioned about the educational infrastructure, and they need help. Schools work best when the community is actively involved, yet too many parents and community members believe it’s someone else’s responsibility to solve the problems of education.

Children need good role models and people who care about their lives and behavior. You can be a big brother or sister to a local youth, monitor outdoor activities, assist with special events, chaperone field trips, read stories to elementary school students, provide safety as a crossing guard, or spend a Saturday beautifying the school grounds, your efforts will be recognized and appreciated. Moreover, you can make an investment that will pay dividends in the future.

Tutor a Student

Students consist of people of all ages. Teaching literacy to adults can impact their lives positively. Helping someone learn English can expand his or her horizons, able to further interact in the broad community and have a greater share in the economic engine.

Teachers knowledgeable in academic subjects, computer skills and internet usage is widely needed everywhere, especially in the senior community. Life skills, such as cooking, sewing, home repairs and auto maintenance are in demand for all ages.

Organize a Yard Sale for Charity

Consider organizing a yard sale for your community, dedicating the proceeds to a local charity. Almost every household has electronics, tools, furniture, clothes, kitchen ware, music cds, movie dvds, books, equipment that can be sold and the proceeds donated to helping the less fortunate.

Visit a Senior Center

Too many nursing homes are turned into dumping grounds for older people whose families are gone or are unavailable, and many residents are desperate for conversation and connections with people outside the center. A couple of hours a week can make a huge difference in the attitude and outlook of the residents. Not to mention, you may learn valuable lessons about life from those who have been there already.

Coach a Local Youth Team

The old saying, “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop,” is especially true for children and teenagers. Playing sports teaches kids teamwork, responsibility, the joy of being physically fit and develop important social skills by interacting with peers.

Unfortunately, many kids don’t have the opportunity to participate in sports due to a shortage of coaches or assistants. There are openings in almost every sport in every community for compassionate teachers and volunteer coaches. While some experience is helpful, it’s not always essential for you to be a good youth league coach.

Fix and Serve Meals

Despite America’s overall prosperity, the homeless, the unemployed, and the poor often go hungry – almost 50 million Americans in 2014, according to the USDA. Throughout the year, volunteers are needed to prepare and serve food through local charities. Meals on Wheels, with an army of almost 2.6 million volunteers, serves 2.5 million seniors every day, offering nutritious meals, warm smiles, and a safety check. Also, this is often the only connection to the outside world the recipient receives.

Be a Good Neighbor

Before the widespread use of air conditioning, residents of a community were more likely to spend time outside getting to know one another, rather than retreating inside to escape the heat. Now it’s common for neighbors not to know one another.

Participation in a neighborhood organization builds a sense of cmmunity and provides valuable services to those within the neighborhood. Many neighborhood associations have community watch programs, assist with neighborhood beautification and park projects, and represent the community to local government officials. Knowing your neighbors increases a sense of personal security and connection to those around you.

Serve on a Community Board

Charities and community service organizations often compete with other businesses for the community’s attention and support. In many cases, nonprofits are at a distinct disadvantage, lacking the resources to attract, compensate, and retain high performing executive staff and administrators. If your talents are administrative, or if you have executive or board experience, your insights and knowledge could be welcomed at not-for-profit, community-based organizations.

Volunteer at a Hospital

Volunteers provide crucial support to hospitals, and also offer comfort and convenience to patients, families, and visitors. Volunteer opportunities include everything from manning information booths, to sitting with patients or working with children. Duties might involve helping with food service or pushing wheelchairs. Hospitals have a wide variety of volunteer needs that are suitable for all ages.

Become a Docent

Museums, art galleries, presidential libraries, aquariums, zoos, and universities frequently need trained guides to lead visitors through facilities to enhance the visitors’ experience. Docent training is usually provided, so the only qualities necessary are enthusiasm, flexibility, patience and passion. If you enjoy being around people, volunteering in these areas could be enjoyable and enlightening.

Organize a Food Co-op

Food co-ops – cooperative efforts to buy food in volume to distribute to co-op members – initially started as a way to save money on grocery purchases. Increasingly, they are vehicles that enable members to buy fresh, naturally grown foods directly from farmers/producers at below-market prices.

Co-ops - typically nonprofit organizations that rely on volunteers, and advocates claim they offer better nutrition for lower prices. Bountiful Baskets initially started with a single site in Arizona, but now has more than 100 sites in multiple states, and it continues to grow.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still on the fence about volunteering, or you’re not sure you have the time or energy necessary, consider the five-year, multi-institutional study that proved giving and being unselfish can protect your health and prolong your life. Every day that goes by without helping another is an opportunity missed. Recognize that others helped you achieve your merits, and now you have the opportunity to pay them back while paying the effort forward.

Where to Find Volunteer Opportunities

VolunteerMatch – Find opportunities that match your volunteer interests, from location to type of work.

Idealist – Find volunteer opportunities in your local area or internationally.

National and Community Service – Federal organization offering volunteer positions across the U.S.

Volunteer – Directory of environmental volunteer opportunities.

U.S. Peace Corps – Volunteer opportunities overseas and includes a 50 Plus division.

American Red Cross – Volunteer in any of the Red Cross’s key service areas.

I need a job and I M on the streets of Dallas I'm 60 I'm a hard worker

I put my career on the back burner for 20+ years because I didn't have courage. Now I am a widow and find that I'm aged out of the job market.

I lost my job a month ago I'm 64 and its been over 25 years that I've had to look for a job obviously I'm not in as good shape as I was back then things have changed a lot I'm not overly educated but I still have many skills I've been a rigger and truck driver for the last 20 yrs I had an automotive machine shop before that I can still build engines and run lathes boring bars mills crankshaft grinders I specialized in cyl.heads I am probably the best you'll see as a forklift operator I can do maintenance work drive anything I live in Loveland Co.Im looking to retire at 66 1/!2 but I need to feed the family keep a roof over their heads until I can get retirement going so if anybody knows anyone in need of help I would prefer full time

Hello! So glad to meet all of you! I am 51 returning to the work force after a car accident and then cancer. So, yes, there is a gap in my work history.. I really wanted to say my last job was a patient. However, spending the amount of time that I have with other patients and doctors I have a transformational view on interpersonal communication and empathy. I have mad skills in technical writing, being the liaison between technology and clients, project championing, anticipating needs, and professional development. I am told that I have a great sense of humor and I make others feel valued. I’m looking forward to finding a career that fits just right.

I'm looking for an entry level job where salary starts at around 14/hr. I am cannot stand for long periods of time or lift more than 20-25 lbs. I'm in tears; who wants to hire a 61 year old with lots of experience, but no degree?

I've been working at a Temp agency for 3 yrs now and every year I get laid off in early November until close to February so I am looking to secure a more stable position. At nearly 50 yrs old, I'm looking for medical benefits and knowing that I can completely support myself now that I am widowed. 2018 was a brutal year for me personally and professionally. Now I'm looking for stability and continuity in the work place. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Being self employed has been a dream of mine for many years.may be ,just may now it's time to get moving in that direction..being 54 now its almost sceary to think about me being my own employer.im starting to feel the reason I can't land another Quality Assurance position is because it's no longer in the cards for life.and life is going to take away all the things I think I want to do simply because I have been trying to avoid doing what I really need to do.in a nut shell, you will eventually come to a crossroads and at that point you will have to do what you were put here to do or parish.