One of the things that continually inspires me about this work is how many people choose to give their time, talents, and energy in service to others — even after retiring from their primary careers. As we recognize Older Americans Month this May, it feels especially important to celebrate the role older adults play in strengthening our communities.
Older Americans are one of the driving forces behind volunteerism in this country. About one-third of older adults report volunteering regularly in their communities, and adults age 65 and older contribute nearly 29% of all volunteer hours in the United States. Older adults also make approximately 45% of all charitable donations. At LASCO, we see the impact of that commitment every day.
We appreciate all of the donors who contribute directly from their retirement accounts. Many supporters over the age of 70.5 take advantage of the opportunity to use their IRA's required distribution to make a tax-deductible contribution to LASCO.
In Columbus, the roots of our current pro bono program were cemented with the Volunteer Resource Center (VRC), founded by retired attorneys who wanted to give back. Those volunteers staffed shifts in our office, helping provide consistent coverage and building the foundation for the pro bono program we have today. Over the years, the needs of the program have changed, and so have volunteer roles, but the spirit behind that work has remained the same.
Today, volunteers like Vivian Opelt and Chris Trail continue that tradition through extraordinary service to our clients and communities at in-person expungement, driver’s license, and wills clinics. Jim Burnes supports our work through virtual consultations on landlord-tenant matters and supporting our in-house teams in areas like tax and unemployment. Others, like Dennis Muchnicki, a retired attorney who volunteers weekly at our eviction court program to help prevent families from losing their homes — remind us how much impact one person can have simply by continuing to show up for others. Their contributions expand access to justice in ways that simply would not otherwise be possible.
And while many of our volunteers are attorneys, many are not. There are countless ways to help strengthen our communities — through professional skills, compassion, reliability, donation, or simply a willingness to show up and help where needed.
As we look to the future, we remain deeply grateful for the supporters who continue to make this work possible.
