New Heart of Missouri United Way program seeks to connect retirees to volunteer opportunities
Columbia residents who reach retirement age but want to remain active in the community have a new option to connect with volunteer opportunities.
Heart of Missouri United Way on Friday announced its participation in the Give 5 program, modeled on a similar program started through United Way of the Ozarks in Springfield.
Through volunteer matchmaking, retirees — or those nearing 60 or older — can pair up with nonprofit organizations following a series of classes.
Eighteen people were signed up for Columbia's Give 5 program as of Friday morning. The class is intended to have 20 people, but that could be stretched to 25, said Andrew Grabau, Heart of Missouri United Way president and CEO.
"We recognize the challenges around social isolation in our community, especially among seniors and recent retirees as they move from the office to the next phase in their life," Grabau said. "We feel like the nonprofit sector can play an important role with engaging retirees to volunteer in the community. To find those new paths, new relationships."
How Give 5 works
The first cohort will meet once per week over five weeks starting July 22. Space at Missouri Employers Mutual at 101 N. Keene St. will be the base of operations. MEM is a significant United Way supporter, Grabau said.
The COVID-19 pandemic meant many volunteer opportunities in the community were put on hold. The Give 5 program is a way for retirees to connect with what is available again, Grabau said.
"(Give 5 participants) have lived experiences, professional skills that are going to help address capacities those nonprofits have identified in creating a better, stronger community," he said.
The once-per-week classes are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Each class will feature a speaker. Then participants will visit and tour nonprofit organizations in Columbia to find which one aligns with their skills.
"We'll tour 20 to 25 nonprofits. Then the (participant) can decide where they wish to decide to volunteer five hours a month," Grabau said.
Give 5 is about mining the wealth of knowledge of its participants, said Eryca Neville, Heart of Missouri United Way board chair and principal of Douglass High School.
"It is an opportunity of putting well-knowing and well-meaning people in spaces that need their support," she said.
'Broader exposure' to volunteer opportunities
Jim Lisenbardt was slightly familiar with Give 5 when he signed up for the classes through Heart of Missouri United Way.
His daughter, who lives in and works for the City of Springfield, worked with Greg Burris, the former city manager there who was instrumental in getting Give 5 started, Lisenbardt said.
"She just happened to find out through the grapevine in Springfield that Columbia was going to try something similar," he said. "She knew I had always given to the United Way and thought this is something that would be worthwhile doing."
Lisenbardt worked for Schneider Electric through its Square D product for 42 years, retiring about a year ago.
"Since I retired, a lot of volunteering was shut off," he said, noting his volunteer stints with the Food Bank of Central & Northeast Missouri, State Historical Society of Missouri and dog walking for the Central Missouri Humane Society.
"This might lead to something else," Lisenbardt said. "I am hoping this type of a program will give people broader exposure to a lot of different things. I am sure I will learn more about agencies I did not know a thing about."
Scott Yost, a Simmons Bank senior vice president, signed up Friday for the program. He moved to Columbia from St. Louis around Labor Day last year.
"I have seen my mom who lived to be about 94 and how engaged she was and how important it was to stay busy," he said.
Yost's role as private wealth market director means he's often the person telling individuals they have enough capital on which to retire.
They aren't sure what to do with their time, Yost said.
"I think this is a great opportunity to match people that are interested in doing something for the next phase. This can get them plugged into opportunities," he said.
Yost wants to find ways to get more engaged in the Columbia community due to his recent relocation here.
"I am ready to get involved, meet people and get engaged," he said.
Reducing isolation, improving health
The Give 5 program wants to reduce social isolation and improve health outcomes of retirees. Licensed Give 5 programs are available not only in Columbia and Springfield, but also in Clayton, Missouri; Canton and Stark County, Ohio; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Give 5 program information notes that socially isolated retirees have higher risks of heart disease and stroke.
"We want all Missourians to be well and we sponsored the space for the program," said MEM's Laura Gerding, who also is on the Heart of Missouri United Way board. "If people are active and well, that benefits everybody."
The Give 5 program aligns with MEM's corporate impact program, which includes safety; health and wellness; and education and skills development, Gerding said.
"You are supporting the health and wellness of the community, but also of the volunteers doing this program," she said. "It's mental health. It is all those things."
Just because a person is retired doesn't mean they have lost the skills they can provide to nonprofits, Gerding added.
Program participants from other communities — when they were surveyed — noted high engagement rates with volunteering, including exceeding the five monthly volunteer hours, Grabau said.
"They felt connected, told friends about (Give 5), and this isn't the point of the program, but in many cases they started donating to support an organization as well," he said.
Charles Dunlap covers courts, public safety and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Give 5 program to link Columbia retirees to volunteer opportunities
