If you’re like most seniors, you have favorite cultural destinations in Delaware and nearby Pennsylvania that you visit time and again—museums, gardens, galleries, parks. But probably unbeknownst to you, many of these destinations would love for you to become an insider by volunteering.
“Volunteers are an integral part of our Longwood family,” says Jourdan Cole, public relations manager at Longwood Gardens. “We frequently say that our employees and volunteers are the soul of the gardens.”
Part of Winterthur’s mission statement includes the importance of community involvement, points out Janice Crawford, volunteer coordinator at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. “Active volunteers recruited from the community are essential in helping fulfill this mission. In addition, [the institution] values volunteers as ambassadors to the community.”
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Even though volunteers are, by definition, unpaid, there is much to be gained in becoming one: a chance to continue to use your skills, perform a valuable community service, see how the institution works from the inside, gain a new group of friends and acquaintances, and often be eligible for free classes and limited passes to visit and attend events.
The workload isn’t crushing, either. Winterthur requires only a minimum of 25 hours per year, while Longwood asks for 50. As a result, Winterthur has more than 250 active volunteers who work both inside the museum and library, around its gardens and at special events. Longwood offers similar opportunities.
Here are what other venues are looking for:
Related: Volunteers Over the Age of 55 Provide Crucial Help to Delaware Nonprofits