Volunteering in retirement doesn’t just benefit the world, it benefits the retiree. Staying involved as a senior citizen volunteer can help you maintain your mental and physical health as well as helping you stay involved in your community. It helps you stay social and can give you a strong sense of purpose during the often difficult transition that accompanies retirement.

Looking for ideas for volunteer opportunities for seniors? Look no further! We’ve created this resource page to help inspire you to give back to your community in retirement.

1 | Act Globally

One of the best parts of retiring is that you have more time on your hands to do what you love. If one of the things you love is travel, then consider combining that passion with some volunteering! Road Scholar offers volunteer opportunities overseas for seniors, as well as service learning programs right here in the U.S. Make the world a better place while taking part in educational travel experiences, from excavating Mammoth fossils in the Black Hills to teaching English in India.

2 | Be a Foster Grandparent

There are endless opportunities for volunteering to help children, from tutoring to organizing toy drives to coaching a youth sports team. But one that fits particularly well for volunteering in retirement is Senior Corps’ foster grandparent program, which pairs adults over 55 with children-in-need in their communities for mentorship.

3 | Volunteer at a National Park

There are lots of volunteer opportunities for seniors at National Parks for those who live near one. You can volunteer at one-time events if you have limited time to give, or serve a longer term position. The National Park Service even offers an Artist-in-Residence program for visual artists, writers, musicians and more. Plus, 250 service hours earns you a free volunteer pass!