90 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Life after retirement can be exhilarating and terrifying all at once. You now have time to discover new passions, hobbies and volunteering, but where do you start? Many seniors in the community have decided to give back to the community through local nonprofit organizations that are seeking volunteers. Let’s meet some of the folks and organizations that are making a difference in the lives of others. EAST COOPER MEALS ON WHEELS Teri and Jim Ingram have been volunteering with Meals on Wheels since 1997. They started out as packers and deliverers and watched it grow into the wonderful asset to the community that it is today. Upon retiring from the Coast Guard in 1995, the Ingrams knew that they wanted to continue to serve their community. They bought a motorhome and started using it to travel around and help. Meals on Wheels has provided a flexible schedule for the couple as they travel and given them the opportunity to create a symbiotic relationship with their recipients. “We love to get to know the people on our route,” said Jim. “We do the same route every week. It is their only time they get to see someone during the day. It’s fun to get to know the people and we look out for them. We help with small things like smoke alarm battery changing and transportation to doctor’s appointments. We have also put others in contact with resources that they need. We had one person come over and have Christmas dinner with us.” The Ingrams feel that they may get more out of it than their participants and emphasized that social contact is just as important as the meal they provide. If you’re looking to connect with this group, visit ecmow.org today. LET’S WALK Penzola Younginer loves to spend time walking and investing in the lives of those in her community. She signed up at the Senior Expo to get involved with Let’s Walk and then was officially connected. The premise for the organization is simple – they connect clients with walking companions. “We provide a rewarding, flexible volunteer opportunity for healthy people living in the area. We connect our trained, background-checked Time Well Spent Seniors give back through volunteering BY CARI LAWSON senior living Grandparents Group at James B. Edwards Elementary. www.CharlestonRetirementLiving.com | www.RetiringtoSouthCarolina.com | www.CoastalRetirementTowns.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1