WHEREAS, Each May, Americans observe Older Americans Month and celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of older Americans; and

WHEREAS, Many local governments have proclaimed May to be Older Americans Month; and

WHEREAS, Senior volunteers serve congregate and home-delivered meals, engage in assisted senior activities, work for the prevention of elder abuse, and provide health care counseling, legal assistance, and transportation; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer work is performed for Alzheimer’s patients, grandchildren, community organizations, schools, churches, hospitals, and many other nonprofit organizations; and

WHEREAS, A national survey in 1999 showed senior citizens’ volunteer work hours totaled approximately 5.5 billion hours a year at an estimated value of $71.2 billion. Forty-five percent of seniors reported volunteering in neighborhoods, 54 percent of senior volunteers were either full- or part-time employed, and 45 percent of retired seniors volunteered four or more hours weekly. Eighty-one percent of those over 75 years of age volunteer when asked; and

WHEREAS, Many local governments, nonprofit organizations, and senior centers recognize senior volunteers once a year by providing honorary certificates; and

WHEREAS, Many senior volunteers are in better health and live longer due to advancements in medical science; and

WHEREAS, A major motivator for senior volunteers is their desire to give back to society financially or socially; and

WHEREAS, The 2005 White House Conference on Aging resolved to “develop a national strategy for promoting new and meaningful volunteer activities and civil engagements for current and future seniors” because volunteerism is very important to the fabric of American society; and

WHEREAS, The 2005 White House Conference on Aging resolved to “reauthorize the National And Community Service Act to expand opportunities for volunteer and civic engagement activities” because volunteerism greatly assists many nonprofit organizations; now, therefore, be it