There never seems to be enough time to do all I set out to accomplish.

Year-round, many hours a week are spent looking up information for people who want to know more about their ancestry. Genealogical research is one of my favorite hobbies and for some reason, I seldom regard this research as volunteering, but in reality, that is what it is.

Skills I learned in the newspaper-work world are used to provide several organizations with ready-for-the-printer newsletters. It’s fun for me, and the groups are appreciative since “editing and layout” are completely foreign to them.

Between working part time and the volunteer work, I don’t have any time left to wonder what to do with extra hours.

In today’s fast-paced world, young and middle-aged people do not seem to have as much time as some senior citizens, and many of us find ourselves seeking something to fill our time and fulfill our lives. Helping others is one of the most rewarding ways to accomplish these goals.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program for people 55 and older, at Southern Maine Agency on Aging, is one way to get started. Do something you enjoy doing and help others at the same time.

Do you love dancing? Could you teach others how to line dance? There are groups waiting to learn.

Some of us love flower arranging and this is another art which people are enthusiastic about learning – and the flowers will be provided.

In Westbrook, volunteers are needed to pick up meals each weekday at Larrabee Village and deliver them to Franklin Towers in Portland. Mileage reimbursement is available.

Do you have a people-friendly, calm dog? Perhaps you’d like to learn how to visit a senior facility with your pet and enrich the lives of others.

For more information on any of these opportunities – and many others – call Priscilla at 396-6521 or 1-800-427-7411. These are just a few of the volunteer opportunities in Cumberland County.

Ken Murray (RSVP director, 1-800-427-7411) can give you more information about the following current volunteer needs in York County:

Volunteers are needed to spend time with residents with Alzheimer’s disease in a Kennebunk assisted living facility. This would include talking, reminiscing, walking in the gardens and other activities.

A nursing home in Saco seeks help for the front desk and answering the phone. Office help is needed at a senior center in Wells and chambers of commerce seek assistance from volunteers to greet visitors and provide them with information about the community.

Do you enjoy knitting? Lead a group at an assisted-living facility in Saco and make new friends.

Hospice volunteers are always needed in both York and Cumberland counties. Training is provided for this especially rewarding experience.

Local schools, libraries and other community departments are often looking for volunteers, but may not have the funds to advertise for these positions. Take a few minutes and give them a call. In my own town, older volunteers work at the food pantry, the library, for the historical society, offer workshops on a variety of medical issues as well as for many school functions.

It’s refreshing to take a few hours a week and get a new perspective on life through volunteering. Using skills you’ve taken a lifetime to acquire, keeps your mind sharp and your time spent in a worthwhile way.