UKC Volunteer Spotlight: Retiree Jim Wilkinson

After a decades-long career in the financial services industry, Jim Wilkinson was finally ready to retire. Retiring was a good thing— it meant more time to spend with his family and for traveling. However, the lack of a job left Jim with a huge gap in his day-to-day schedule. 

There are many ways retirees can fill up their schedule–taking on new hobbies, learning a new language, traveling—but Jim decided he wanted to do something else. He decided to take up volunteering. 

This wasn’t his first time toying with the idea. Jim already was a volunteer election poll worker and had a position at his Homeowner’s Association. Although both of these things were rewarding, they didn’t take up much of his time. He wanted a volunteering opportunity that was more on-going. And while Jim knew he wanted to do something to give back to the community, he wasn’t sure what exactly that was, or even if there was a place out there that would want his help.  

“I didn’t quite know how to get started. And I didn’t understand the need and the receptivity of nonprofits to offers from volunteers,” says Jim. 

At that time, Jim might have been surprised to hear that retirees are some of the most sought after volunteers out there. Without a commitment to a job, they’re better able to donate their time or skills. To add to that, retirees are available during the middle of the day, a time when volunteers are often sorely needed. 

Nonprofits know this, and will eagerly accept any help they can take. And yet, many struggle to recruit volunteers. Why? 

As a retiree himself, Jim speculates that many retirees are unsure of where to start, like he once was. “For some people, it’s a ‘I’m a little nervous about this, maybe I’ll look into it tomorrow’ kind of thing. So there may be some procrastination and uncertainty about volunteering and how to get started. “ 

While on the hunt for other volunteer opportunities through the Mid America Regional Council’s Give 5 program, Jim learned about Uncover KC. Several things about UKC stood out to Jim–he liked the organization’s involvement with schools and other nonprofits, but he was also attracted to Uncover KC’s mission of inspiring others to volunteer and get involved in their communities. 

“In finance, there’s a concept of leveraging your money to make more money. Now I could do the same thing, but by being a volunteer who helps recruit more volunteers,” explains Jim. 

Once Jim decided he wanted to volunteer, the next step was as easy as meeting with UKC staff and deciding where to go from there. He decided to join the Events Committee, helping recruit and manage volunteers for other nonprofits. 

It’s been almost a year now, and he’s continuing to thrive as an active volunteer. ”There’s the good feeling from giving back to the community and a feeling that you’ve accomplished something,” says Jim. “There’s also the opportunity to join a new community or a new group of people. There’s a lot of really interesting and committed people at Uncover KC, and it’s fun to hang out with other people that are outside my normal circle of friends.” 

Another benefit of volunteering for Jim is that he has the ability to give on his own schedule. In his role as committee member, he can do most of his volunteering remotely on his own time; something that suits him a bit better than in-person volunteering. And since Uncover KC hosts occasional social and volunteer outings, Jim’s still able to get out of the house from time to time. 

Finding the perfect volunteer position, especially as a retiree, might seem like an impossible task. But Jim is confident that if he can find a fulfilling volunteer role, anyone can. 

“There are a lot of organizations that are looking for volunteers to help them and if you reach out to a nonprofit to volunteer, they’re going to be very receptive,” says Jim. “There are sites where you can find places to do volunteer work. Uncover KC is a great place to start looking.” 

There’s a volunteer position out there for every age group. Are you looking for your next volunteer opportunity but are unsure where to start? Browse our comprehensive volunteer directory to find an organization you connect with. Categories are sorted by cause, so you can easily navigate through the ones most important to you. Or, if you’d like a one-off volunteer opportunity, check out our volunteer events calendar for upcoming and ongoing volunteer postings.