Volunteering in your community is a great way to give back. Established by AARP,  Create the Good is an  online organization that connects individuals with volunteer opportunities in their communities. Whether your goal is to share your life experiences, skills, or passions, you’ll find something that’s right for you on the Create the Good network.

According to the site, “AARP recognizes that many boomers and older Americans are already giving back to their communities in their own ways—and that a regular volunteer ‘position’ isn’t a good fit for everyone. With limited time and wide-ranging interests, many individuals are looking for more flexible volunteer options. That’s why AARP established the good.”

The Create the Good website:

• Posts volunteer opportunities
• Offers a guide to do-it-yourself community projects
• Provides ideas and articles to inspire ideas for volunteer work

All you have to do is type in an area of interest—homelessness, hunger, education, mentoring, etc.—enter the preferred distance from your ZIP code, and the options pop up. Many of them are relatively short term—from a few days to a few months—so you have considerable flexibility.

People have many motivations for volunteering, such as:

• Making an impact
• Strengthening the community
• Meeting others
• Improving emotional health
• Being a leader
• Sharing expertise
• Improving skills
• Learning something new
• Discovering new opportunities
• Experiencing the joy of giving

If you’ve never been a volunteer, Create the Good is a great way to give it a try. If you’re a seasoned giver, tell is what motivates you and why you would recommend it to others.

Elle Gianforte is an award-winning writer and published author whose work includes non-fiction books on a variety of subjects, including adoption, fashion, food, design, healthcare, and memoir. She is currently co-authoring a new book, Don’t Stop Now, Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life (DontStopNow.us). You can see a complete list of books on her Amazon author page.