The heartbeat of our community: A thank you to volunteers

The heartbeat of our community: A thank you to volunteers

Every community has a heartbeat. Here in the Conejo Valley, that heartbeat is made stronger, steadier, and kinder because of the volunteers who show up—day after day, year after year—to make life better for someone else.

I am fortunate to see volunteerism up close through my work at Senior Concerns, but lately I’ve been reflecting on just how many corners of our community are lifted by the hands and hearts of people who give simply because they care.

You see volunteers in the obvious places—delivering meals, coaching youth sports, shelving books at our libraries, comforting animals at shelters, and lending expertise on nonprofit boards. But they also appear in the quiet places

Everyone ages, but senior focused organizations receive little in charity

Everyone ages, but senior focused organizations receive little in charity

Every so often, I read something that makes me stop and catch my breath.

Recently, it was an article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy listing America’s 100 favorite charities. On the surface, it was a remarkable summary of generosity — billions of dollars given by caring people across the country. But as I scanned the list, my heart sank.

Only two of those 100 charities focus on older adults: the Alzheimer’s Association and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.

That is it. Two.

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