Older adults retiring in Aiken, South Carolina, will find many opportunities for connection and purpose in the area. From volunteer roles to senior centers, there’s something for everyone to help create a sense of belonging in your golden years.
Explore this list of our top ways to engage in meaningful activities in Aiken and nearby Augusta in this blog curated by Golden Bell Senior Living.
Top Ways to Connect and Live With Purpose in Aiken, South Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia
Aiken Senior Life Services
Aiken Senior Life Services is a nonprofit organization that provides meals, transportation, and social activities for older adults in Aiken County. Seniors can participate in the programs offered there and volunteer to help support their mission.
Volunteer opportunities include bingo callers, community gardener helpers, Meals on Wheels delivery drivers, activity assistants, and more. Learn more and apply online or print their volunteer application here.
Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior & Youth Center
Discover an abundance of activities, clubs, fitness classes, games, and more at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior & Youth Center. The center, operated by the City of Aiken Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, provides ways to volunteer and get involved with both senior and youth activities.
It’s also a great venue for special events, like birthday celebrations, holidays, or family reunions. There is over 4,000 square feet of banquet hall space in addition to a catering kitchen. Call 803-643-2181 for more information or visit the city’s website.
Golden Harvest Food Bank
With locations in Augusta, Georgie, and Aiken, Golden Harvest Food Bank offers many ways to get involved and make a difference in the community. The food bank provides food to children, seniors, and families who don’t have enough to eat. The organization depends on volunteers to carry out their day-to-day operations.
Volunteers are needed for food sorting in the Augusta and Aiken warehouses, food packing at the Aiken warehouse, gardening at the urban farm, and food prepping and serving at The Master’s Table lunch events. Visit the website for additional details.
Places of Worship
Many retirees search for a place to worship when settling into the Aiken community. You’ll find an abundance of religious organizations in the area — visit this website for area churches with links to additional information about each place of worship.
Related: The Importance of Socialization for the Health and Wellness of Seniors >>
Helping Hands
Helping Hands is an Aiken nonprofit organization that provides an emergency home for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Helping Hands also offers independent living skills instruction, mental health counseling, educational support, and medical and legal advocacy services.
Volunteers who wish to work directly with children can help with parties, arts and crafts, tutoring, or storytelling/reading. Volunteers who prefer to volunteer in a different capacity can help with yard work, sort and organize donated items, perform general maintenance tasks, or participate in a donation drive. View this website for more information and an application.
ACTS – Area Churches Together Serving
ACTS, or Area Churches Together Serving, partners with churches, organizations, and individuals to assist those in need in Aiken and Graniteville, South Carolina. Volunteers serve many purposes within the organization, including working in the food pantry, sorting donated clothing and housewares, assisting with clerical duties, performing light maintenance tasks, and delivering food. Visit this website for more information and an online application.
Aiken Newcomers’ Club
The Aiken Newcomers’ Club serves women of Aiken and surrounding regions, but doesn’t limit its membership to new residents. The club gathers to socialize and give back to the community. The club is seeking volunteers to assist the following organizations:
- FOTAS (Friends of the Animal Shelter) – serve as a dog walker, short-term foster, assist with fundraising events, or donate blankets and food
- Aiken Equine Rescue – adopt or foster a horse, walk the horses, or clean the stables
- Nurture Home (program offered by Mental Health America of Aiken County) – read with children, lead cooking lessons, help with vegetable garden maintenance, or tutor school-age children
- Saratoga WarHorse (SWH) – Aiken satellite location – write grants, host dinner parties for veterans, or provide lunches for veterans
Aiken-Bamberg-Barnwell-Edgefield (ABBE) Regional Library System
The ABBE Regional Library System has an ongoing need for volunteers to support their regular library staff. Positions vary and can include patron assistants, general branch helpers, shelvers, shelf readers, and clerical assistants. The library system also requires volunteers to assist with various special projects throughout the year. Visit the website to learn more.
Discover Connection and Purpose in a Senior Living Community
Senior living communities like Golden Bell’s Cumberland Village and Cumberland Hills provide additional volunteer opportunities for non-residents and residents. Non-residents may enjoy assisting with special events and programming.
Residents can participate in committees focusing on planning meaningful activities and opportunities for their peers. They can lead book clubs, computer classes, and gardening demonstrations. The possibilities are endless, inspiring connections and a purpose-driven, active lifestyle.
Life at Golden Bell Senior Living
Senior living communities like Golden Bell provide the comforts of home with the added benefits of supportive care, engaging activities, and a maintenance-free lifestyle. With your daily needs met, your loved one will live more independently and have opportunities to meet friends, discover new interests, and live each day to the fullest.
Golden Bell Senior Living offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, and respite care. Residents have personalized care plans, are treated like family, and are greeted by name in a warm, welcoming environment.
Amenities and activities include:
- Beautiful accommodations
- Landscaped grounds and gardens
- Community outings
- Recreation and social activities
- Chef-prepared meals
- Scheduled transportation
- Beauty and barber shop
- Housekeeping and maintenance services
Please contact us to learn more about our communities or set up a tour. We’d love to hear from you and are happy to help answer any questions you have about senior living. For more information about choosing senior living, download our complimentary Funding Senior Care and Housing Guide.
