Top 5 Places Retirees Can Volunteer in Anderson County

There are many benefits to volunteering, both for yourself as well as your community. It can help reduce stress, allow you to connect with others, learn new skills, improve your overall well-being, all while giving back to the community in a variety of ways. Retirement may leave you with extra time on your hands and volunteering is a great way to spend that time. In fact, many studies indicate those that volunteer regularly live longer than those who lead more sedentary lives. We’ve compiled a list of the top five places retirees can volunteer in Anderson County.

• State Park – Being retired doesn’t mean you have to stay inside all day. One way to give back, get some fresh air and experience the beauty of East Tennessee is to volunteer at Norris Dam State Park or other area parks. Volunteers can help in a variety of ways within the park system. Trail maintenance, educational programs, annual events, there is always a need for volunteers and the opportunities are endless.

• Food pantries – Volunteers make a world of difference in the success of a food pantry or food bank. They are needed to perform important tasks like sorting donated items, packing food boxes, aiding in administration and helping at special events. Anderson County has multiple food pantries at area churches and East Tennessee is also home to Second Harvest Food Bank which services 18 surrounding counties. Needless to say, volunteering at one of the local food pantries is a wonderful way to donate your time.

• Animal Shelter – Local animal shelters are always in need of volunteers to care for animals, help organize fundraising efforts, perform administrative tasks among other things. Retirees with the time and space to look after an animal might even consider fostering an animal until a permanent placement can be found. Like many non-profit organizations, animal shelters also need legal advocates, grant writers, and more. Anderson County is home to the Anderson County Animal Shelter, the Humane Society of Oak Ridge & Anderson County, Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, and the Norris Animal Shelter. With the area being home to multiple shelters, there is no shortage in volunteer work available.

• Art Museum or Art Center – Art is a vital part in cultural life in Anderson County. The arts bring many people together and enrich their lives for the better. Two of the places that do just that have made our list of the top places to volunteer in Anderson County – The Oak Ridge Art Center and the Appalachian Arts Craft Center. The Oak Ridge Art Center offers a variety of programs that serve approximately 50,000 visitors. That wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers. The mission of the Appalachian Arts Craft Center is to support arts and crafts in Appalachia through education, sales and community involvement and volunteers are needed to make that happen.

• County Events – Anderson County has several annual events that bring thousands of visitors to the area each year. Whether it is a spring or fall antique festival, the annual county fair, music concerts, or holiday events there is always a need for volunteers to help make the events a success. We recommend you get in touch with the local Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Council to find what events would be of interest to you.

To see a list of civic organizations and volunteer opportunities, please visit our website at www.movetoandersoncounty.com.