Looking for a little more purpose and fulfillment in your days? Donating your time, talents, and money to a cause you believe in could be the perfect answer. In fact, volunteering and helping others is proven to be good for you! Studies have found that, for adults age 60 and up, volunteering has tangible mental and physical health benefits1. It helps maintain memory and other cognitive functions, lowers stress levels and depression, improves balance and stamina, and even lowers the risk of mortality.
Getting fired up? Here are a few easy ways to get involved.
Speak out
Your voice is one of the most powerful tools you have to create change. By speaking out on issues that matter, like global poverty, hunger, or women’s rights, you help influence public opinion, shift policies, and inspire others to take action. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start with small steps.
For example, there are apps available that make it easy to contact your elected officials in just minutes. You can sign petitions through reputable organizations like CARE that support urgent humanitarian efforts around the world. Whether you’re making a call or adding your name to a petition, your actions help send a powerful message: we care, and we demand better. When you raise your voice, you also give others the courage to do the same.
Fuel change with a donation
Donating is one of the most direct and effective ways to support lasting change – especially when you give to trusted organizations like CARE. Your gift helps deliver food, shelter, medical care, education, and economic opportunity in the most efficient way and where it’s needed most. Every dollar matters. Whether it’s a one-time gift or a monthly commitment, your support becomes a lifeline for families facing crisis.
“Now I can see a better future”
How do your efforts help? Meet Hiba, a single mother and farmer in Syria2. When an earthquake decimated Hiba’s farm, a grant from CARE allowed her to rebuild and learn new skills. She was able to purchase new equipment, receive business training, and produce new products to support her family. “For the first time, I feel in control of my work,” she says, “and I understand how to achieve financial stability.”
Think globally
Change doesn’t just happen in one neighborhood – it takes all of us, everywhere, to make a difference in the world. CARE partners with local communities around the world to deliver efficient, far-reaching, and lasting change, especially for women and families who are too often overlooked.
For 80 years, CARE has been a steadfast force for good – saving lives, battling poverty, and championing equal rights. With your support, you’re not just helping one person, you’re investing in long-term systems of change for those left behind.
Who Cares? You do. Click to learn how you can make a lasting impact with CARE
Sources:
1 https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/3-health-benefits-of-volunteering
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/12/25/nx-s1-5233123/kindness-heart-brain-mental-health
2 https://www.care.org/whocares?utm_medium=brand&utm_source=aarp-ethel&utm_id=hiba&utm_campaign=fy26_brand&utm_term=acq_sg&utm_content=article_source
