SOAR 55, Service Opportunities After Reaching 55, a program of the Newton Community Service Center, with a satellite office at the Framingham Public Library connects adults age 55 and over to meaningful community service opportunities in Newton and MetroWest. SOAR 55 collaborates with over 85 non-profits and civic organizations to offer volunteers a myriad of interesting opportunities from which to choose. Staff works closely with each volunteer to help ensure assignments meet individual interests, skills and schedule. SOAR 55 Volunteers help in direct service roles, as Volunteer Specialists and as management consultants to local nonprofits.

Listed here are just a few of our opportunities: teach entrepreneurship skills to pre-release prison inmates and/or paroles or work with an MCI Framingham inmate enrolled in Boston University’s “College Behind Bars” program as part of an Academic Mentoring Team;  research grants and write proposals or provide administrative support to a grants program;  work with a team of professionals to provide camp scholarships for children who have suffered the loss of a parent; help a child improve their reading or math skills as a Learning Partner in local elementary schools; and work with families in early childhood literacy training.

For a complete listing of service opportunities or for more information about SOAR 55, visit the web at www.ncscweb.org/programs/soar55.  All assignments offer a chance for volunteers to meet new people, learn new skills, share experience and connect with the community. Many assignments include orientation, training and support, are flexible and require approximately two hours (average) a week. For more information on these and other opportunities in Wayland and Metrowest, contact Lois Levick, SOAR 55 Volunteer Outreach Coordinator at Framingham Public Library at 508-532-5570, ext.4353 or at llevick@minlib.net.