The Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active While Involving the Church

 
Many seniors find it extra important to stay active and vital within their community, yet it can be difficult to stay motivated every day, especially if you have health issues or have to do it on your own. Fortunately, there are several ways you can stay fit and include your church group, which can be beneficial in so many ways. Staying social is an important part of your senior years, particularly if you work from home, so finding creative ways to do so can help boost your mood, increase energy and, as New Beginnings points out, even prevent substance abuse and depression.

Today, the Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program brings you some of the best ways to stay active and get the church involved.

Start a Workout Group

It’s likely that there are fellow seniors at your church who’d like to get active, so consider starting a workout group that meets once or twice a week. You could go for walks in the park or mall, get together at the local YMCA for water aerobics, or lead a dance class at the church. It’s also possible to workout at home and invite others to join you. If so, make sure your home is free of distractions and sources of stress so you can focus on your regimen and fellowship. A few simple steps like decluttering and cleaning go a long way in that regard. You can also stock your kitchen with healthy snacks to share with your guests, so everyone will feel healthy and refreshed.

Getting everyone up and moving is a great way to keep one another motivated, especially if you’re having fun at the same time. Don’t forget about how music can provide motivation as well, which means you’ll want to invest in a high-quality set of earbuds to sync with your cellphone or other device playing your favorite upbeat songs.

Volunteer

If there are individuals at your church who could use some help–elderly patrons, those who are ill or can’t leave the home, or new or single parents–volunteer to be of assistance by asking if they’d like you to do some light cleaning, laundry, yard work, cooking, or babysitting. All of these activities are great ways to stay active, and not only will you be helping fellow churchgoers, you’ll also be creating a bond and lasting friendship.

If getting out is difficult or stressful, ask if there are any ways that you can volunteer from home. There are many benefits of working or volunteering from home, including stress reduction and time management. But you may feel isolated if you are unable to gather with other people, so be careful and work to find a good balance for your physical and mental well-being.

Get Involved

Your church likely has many activities that you can get involved in, including charity events and celebrations. Lending your time and abilities to these events can help you feel vital to the community and will keep you moving at the same time.

You might organize a kite-flying day in April, or help with the festivities on Easter Sunday. Help the little ones find eggs during a hunt and hand out baskets, egg-shaped sidewalk chalk, and bottles of bubbles for the kiddos to blow.

You can also volunteer to work in the church daycare or teach a Bible lesson to the little ones. Spending time with kids can help boost your mood and will definitely ensure that you stay active!

Get Outside

When the weather is nice, The Huffington Post suggests taking advantage of that time to get outside in the fresh air. Organize church picnics and gatherings at a local park, or ask permission to start a garden on the church grounds. The bonus to this is, whatever you grow can be given to the community or sold at a local farmer’s market to raise money for the church.

As a senior, getting involved in your church has many benefits for you as well as those around you. Through volunteering and finding ways to stay active with your fellow congregation members, you can live a healthier and more fulfilling life.

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The Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program provides free food, furniture, diapers, children’s books, emergency assistance, dental assistance, and more to those in need living in our county. Connect with us today to learn more! 757-356-9267
 

5 Ways to Make a Difference in Your Community

You don’t need to be a community leader to make a positive change where you live. Anyone can step up to suggest new programs and initiatives that will help your area become a better place for everyone. For instance, if you’re worried about families going hungry in your town, you can fight this problem by volunteering with the Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program.

Are you wondering which programs might benefit your community? Here are a few ideas, including basic tips on starting your own nonprofit!

Start a Nonprofit

Maybe you’re deeply concerned about a particular problem that’s been plaguing your area for a while – but no one else has set up an organization to address the issue. Why shouldn’t it be you? You have the power to start your own nonprofit and implement solutions! 

To effectively run charitable programs, you might need to apply for grants and public funding. It’s easier to secure financial support from these sources by officially establishing a nonprofit corporation. To complete this process, you’ll have to write up bylaws for your organization that lay out your operations strategy. Your bylaws should cover how your nonprofit will be governed, when you’ll schedule board meetings, your voting procedures, and any rules regarding conflicts of interest.

Community Cleanup

Have you noticed lots of litter in your neighborhood? You may want to organize regular local cleanups. You can start by getting your friends and family together, but you can also invite other people in your community to pitch in! To kick things off, Stasher recommends choosing a time and date and then calling your city clerk to obtain any permits you might need. Get in touch with your social circle, put up some flyers, create an event on social media, and stock up any supplies you’ll need to safely pick up trash.

Animal Welfare Program

Perhaps you’ve seen more stray animals in your community, and you’re wondering how you can help. Even if you wanted to, you can’t adopt every single stray, but you might be able to start your own animal rescue program or even a full shelter. If you’re interested in this path, reach out to other shelters and animal rescue professionals in your area for expert advice.

Neighborhood Watch

Maybe your friends and neighbors have expressed concerns about the safety of your town recently. You may be interested in starting a neighborhood watch program. Bob Vila recommends getting in touch with local law enforcement so that you can work together to create a plan of action. Remember, you’ll need to respect the limits of your program and avoid overstepping your responsibilities.

Voter Registration Drive

You’ve realized that many people in your community don’t vote. In fact, a large percentage of residents might not even be registered to vote! You can turn things around by hosting voter registration drives. If you’ve never hosted a voter registration drive before, but you want to, you can start by coordinating with local political advocacy groups. They can give you the resources you need to host your drive. You’ll need to ensure that all of your materials and activities are strictly nonpartisan, as voter registration drives are purely focused on registering voters rather than promoting a particular policy or candidate.

When you notice problems in your community and realize that no one is taking action, it’s easy to feel discouraged. But you can be the person who inspires others to take action! With these tips, you’ll be ready to clean up your community, register new voters, or even manage your own nonprofit.
 

Photo via Pexels

The Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program provides free food, furniture, diapers, children’s books, emergency assistance, dental assistance, and more to those in need living in our county. Connect with us today to learn more!