Volunteer with KAO!
Are you looking to have a direct, positive impact on someone's life? Do you want to repay someone else's kindness by giving back to your community? Do you respect the contributions of older adults and want to find a way to say, "Thank You!"
If you answered "YES" to any of the above questions, volunteering with KAO may be the perfect fit for you. In addition to the good feelings of giving of yourself, studies have shown that volunteering has psychological benefits as well, while also helping to foster a closer-knit community. KAO has many such opportunities to make the world a better place, starting with Koochiching County. KAO volunteers help with office duties, serve supper and help set-up at the Logging Camp Christmas, provide support during events and programming, and get out into the community to touch the lives of others. While there are many opportunities to volunteer at KAO, three programs offered to the public constitute the majority of our volunteer opportunities. These three programs and the associated opportunities to give back are described below.
If you answered "YES" to any of the above questions, volunteering with KAO may be the perfect fit for you. In addition to the good feelings of giving of yourself, studies have shown that volunteering has psychological benefits as well, while also helping to foster a closer-knit community. KAO has many such opportunities to make the world a better place, starting with Koochiching County. KAO volunteers help with office duties, serve supper and help set-up at the Logging Camp Christmas, provide support during events and programming, and get out into the community to touch the lives of others. While there are many opportunities to volunteer at KAO, three programs offered to the public constitute the majority of our volunteer opportunities. These three programs and the associated opportunities to give back are described below.
Groceries to You!
Volunteers in the G2Y! program help older adults maintain independence through food security. This KAO program has one volunteer taking grocery orders from clients, while other volunteers shopping and deliver groceries to clients' homes. A big part of this program is the socializing that volunteers do as they visit clients after delivering groceries to clients' homes. While this is KAO's newest program, it has quickly become the largest service we offer and volunteers are always needed. A modest mileage reimbursement is available to those who deliver groceries.
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Senior Companion
Senior Companions, women and men who are 55 or older, work to create and build relationships with clients who need such a vital link to the outside world. The relationship provides support to the client and has a direct, positive impact on the client’s health and ability to live independently. KAO is a joint facilitator of this volunteer opportunity along with Lutheran Social Service. In addition to the benefits of befriending an older adult, the program does offer volunteers a modest stipend, volunteer paid time off, and a modest mileage reimbursement.
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Senior WheelsVolunteer drivers for Senior Wheels are caring people who go through training to be sensitive to the special needs of those with health concerns. These volunteers provide rides to clients to and from one-day, routine medical appointments outside of the International Falls vicinity. After driving a client to a medical appointment the volunteer is free to spend time as they wish until it is time to pick up the client after their medical appointment is done. This KAO service provides a vital link to older adults who have difficulty traveling to vital out of town appointments. Volunteers in this program donate all their time, but are reimbursed for their mileage costs at the current IRS mileage rate.
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