Many people describe volunteers as being kind or caring people. And it is true. These honorable character traits are often at the heart of service.

But do you ever wonder, on a practical level, what motivates volunteers?

The following reasons are what we hear most often from our retired volunteers. Some say they are looking for something to do in retirement, while others volunteer for the social aspect. Some simply comment they want to “make a difference,” while others want to give back. They want to be there for others, the same way people were there for them, when they were going th...