Bonnie and Ned Rogers, both 74, have also spent their retirement helping others. They were born and raised on Staten Island, met in college on a blind date and have been married for 52 years. In 2000, after retiring from the telecom industry, Ms. Rogers saw an ad in her church newsletter for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, run by Community Service Society, another organization supported by The Fund.

“I wasn't quite old enough at the time to join,” Ms. Rogers explains, “but they let me be a sort of welcome volunteer.”

Two years later, when a friend and fellow volunteer passed away, the program asked if Ms. Rogers could take over his route for Meals on Wheels, a food assistance program for seniors. Mr. Rogers joined her after he retired in 2004, and they've been working it as a team ever since.

“You have a route with dedicated people, and over time you establish a relationship with them,” Mr. Rogers said. “A lot of the clients are homebound, and they look forward every day to having this interaction with somebody.”

Those relationships were brought to an abrupt halt by the pandemic. In March, the service shifted to providing weekly deliveries of frozen food instead of prepared food five days a week, and volunteers like Mr. and Ms. Rogers were put on the bench.

“We really missed it,” Mr. Rogers said. “While volunteering, we give back, but there's a lot we receive from doing it, too. It's not true altruism. It gives us a reason for being.”

In May, Mr. and Ms. Rogers returned to their Meals on Wheels route as community organizations found ways to adapt.

The couple worried about those whom they hadn't seen in weeks. But on their first day back, they were pleased to see many familiar faces. “The thank you's, the smiles - even with masks on - were wonderful,” Ms. Rogers said.

Retrieved from "Where Covid Left Holes, Volunteers Stepped In" - The New York Times

Bonnie and Ned Rogers, both 74, have also spent their retirement helping others. They were born and raised on Staten Island, met in college on a blind date and have been married for 52 years. In 2000, after retiring from the telecom industry, Ms. Rogers saw an ad in her church newsletter for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, run by Community Service Society, another organization supported by The Fund.

“I wasn't quite old enough at the time to join,” Ms. Rogers explains, “but they let me be a sort of welcome volunteer.”

Two years later, when a friend and fellow volunteer passed away, the program asked if Ms. Rogers could take over his route for Meals on Wheels, a food assistance program for seniors. Mr. Rogers joined her after he retired in 2004, and they've been working it as a team ever since.

“You have a route with dedicated people, and over time you establish a relationship with them,” Mr. Rogers said. “A lot of the clients are homebound, and they look forward every day to having this interaction with somebody.”

Those relationships were brought to an abrupt halt by the pandemic. In March, the service shifted to providing weekly deliveries of frozen food instead of prepared food five days a week, and volunteers like Mr. and Ms. Rogers were put on the bench.

“We really missed it,” Mr. Rogers said. “While volunteering, we give back, but there's a lot we receive from doing it, too. It's not true altruism. It gives us a reason for being.”

In May, Mr. and Ms. Rogers returned to their Meals on Wheels route as community organizations found ways to adapt.

The couple worried about those whom they hadn't seen in weeks. But on their first day back, they were pleased to see many familiar faces. “The thank you's, the smiles - even with masks on - were wonderful,” Ms. Rogers said.

Retrieved from "Where Covid Left Holes, Volunteers Stepped In" - The New York Times

Bonnie and Ned Rogers, both 74, have also spent their retirement helping others. They were born and raised on Staten Island, met in college on a blind date and have been married for 52 years. In 2000, after retiring from the telecom industry, Ms. Rogers saw an ad in her church newsletter for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, run by Community Service Society, another organization supported by The Fund.

“I wasn't quite old enough at the time to join,” Ms. Rogers explains, “but they let me be a sort of welcome volunteer.”

Two years later, when a friend and fellow volunteer passed away, the program asked if Ms. Rogers could take over his route for Meals on Wheels, a food assistance program for seniors. Mr. Rogers joined her after he retired in 2004, and they've been working it as a team ever since.

“You have a route with dedicated people, and over time you establish a relationship with them,” Mr. Rogers said. “A lot of the clients are homebound, and they look forward every day to having this interaction with somebody.”

Those relationships were brought to an abrupt halt by the pandemic. In March, the service shifted to providing weekly deliveries of frozen food instead of prepared food five days a week, and volunteers like Mr. and Ms. Rogers were put on the bench.

“We really missed it,” Mr. Rogers said. “While volunteering, we give back, but there's a lot we receive from doing it, too. It's not true altruism. It gives us a reason for being.”

In May, Mr. and Ms. Rogers returned to their Meals on Wheels route as community organizations found ways to adapt.

The couple worried about those whom they hadn't seen in weeks. But on their first day back, they were pleased to see many familiar faces. “The thank you's, the smiles - even with masks on - were wonderful,” Ms. Rogers said.

Retrieved from "Where Covid Left Holes, Volunteers Stepped In" - The New York Times

Bonnie and Ned Rogers, both 74, have also spent their retirement helping others. They were born and raised on Staten Island, met in college on a blind date and have been married for 52 years. In 2000, after retiring from the telecom industry, Ms. Rogers saw an ad in her church newsletter for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, run by Community Service Society, another organization supported by The Fund.

“I wasn't quite old enough at the time to join,” Ms. Rogers explains, “but they let me be a sort of welcome volunteer.”

Two years later, when a friend and fellow volunteer passed away, the program asked if Ms. Rogers could take over his route for Meals on Wheels, a food assistance program for seniors. Mr. Rogers joined her after he retired in 2004, and they've been working it as a team ever since.

“You have a route with dedicated people, and over time you establish a relationship with them,” Mr. Rogers said. “A lot of the clients are homebound, and they look forward every day to having this interaction with somebody.”

Those relationships were brought to an abrupt halt by the pandemic. In March, the service shifted to providing weekly deliveries of frozen food instead of prepared food five days a week, and volunteers like Mr. and Ms. Rogers were put on the bench.

“We really missed it,” Mr. Rogers said. “While volunteering, we give back, but there's a lot we receive from doing it, too. It's not true altruism. It gives us a reason for being.”

In May, Mr. and Ms. Rogers returned to their Meals on Wheels route as community organizations found ways to adapt.

The couple worried about those whom they hadn't seen in weeks. But on their first day back, they were pleased to see many familiar faces. “The thank you's, the smiles - even with masks on - were wonderful,” Ms. Rogers said.

Retrieved from "Where Covid Left Holes, Volunteers Stepped In" - The New York Times

Bonnie and Ned Rogers, both 74, have also spent their retirement helping others. They were born and raised on Staten Island, met in college on a blind date and have been married for 52 years. In 2000, after retiring from the telecom industry, Ms. Rogers saw an ad in her church newsletter for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, run by Community Service Society, another organization supported by The Fund.

“I wasn't quite old enough at the time to join,” Ms. Rogers explains, “but they let me be a sort of welcome volunteer.”

Two years later, when a friend and fellow volunteer passed away, the program asked if Ms. Rogers could take over his route for Meals on Wheels, a food assistance program for seniors. Mr. Rogers joined her after he retired in 2004, and they've been working it as a team ever since.

“You have a route with dedicated people, and over time you establish a relationship with them,” Mr. Rogers said. “A lot of the clients are homebound, and they look forward every day to having this interaction with somebody.”

Those relationships were brought to an abrupt halt by the pandemic. In March, the service shifted to providing weekly deliveries of frozen food instead of prepared food five days a week, and volunteers like Mr. and Ms. Rogers were put on the bench.

“We really missed it,” Mr. Rogers said. “While volunteering, we give back, but there's a lot we receive from doing it, too. It's not true altruism. It gives us a reason for being.”

In May, Mr. and Ms. Rogers returned to their Meals on Wheels route as community organizations found ways to adapt.

The couple worried about those whom they hadn't seen in weeks. But on their first day back, they were pleased to see many familiar faces. “The thank you's, the smiles - even with masks on - were wonderful,” Ms. Rogers said.

Retrieved from "Where Covid Left Holes, Volunteers Stepped In" - The New York Times

International Young Pioneer Organisation

We send young people of different nationalities on expeditions around the world. Our volunteers get the chance to work with local people to learn about different cultures, and to live in an exciting environment. This often helps them to become more confident and responsible people.

The expeditions

There are ten expeditions every year. Each expedition lasts for ten weeks and takes 150 volunteers. They go to countries such as Chile, Namibia, Mongolia and Viet Nam. Some of our volunteers work with local people to provide important facilities, for example, building schools. Others work in national parks or help scientists do environmental research.

The volunteers

These young adventurous people come from all over the world. To become a volunteer you have to be between 17 and 25; you have to speak English quite well and you also have to be enthusiastic, flexible and hard-working members of a team.

International Young Pioneer Organisation

We send young people of different nationalities on expeditions around the world. Our volunteers get the chance to work with local people to learn about different cultures, and to live in an exciting environment. This often helps them to become more confident and responsible people.

The expeditions

There are ten expeditions every year. Each expedition lasts for ten weeks and takes 150 volunteers. They go to countries such as Chile, Namibia, Mongolia and Viet Nam. Some of our volunteers work with local people to provide important facilities, for example, building schools. Others work in national parks or help scientists do environmental research.

The volunteers

These young adventurous people come from all over the world. To become a volunteer you have to be between 17 and 25; you have to speak English quite well and you also have to be enthusiastic, flexible and hard-working members of a team.

International Young Pioneer Organisation

We send young people of different nationalities on expeditions around the world. Our volunteers get the chance to work with local people to learn about different cultures, and to live in an exciting environment. This often helps them to become more confident and responsible people.

The expeditions

There are ten expeditions every year. Each expedition lasts for ten weeks and takes 150 volunteers. They go to countries such as Chile, Namibia, Mongolia and Viet Nam. Some of our volunteers work with local people to provide important facilities, for example, building schools. Others work in national parks or help scientists do environmental research.

The volunteers

These young adventurous people come from all over the world. To become a volunteer you have to be between 17 and 25; you have to speak English quite well and you also have to be enthusiastic, flexible and hard-working members of a team.

International Young Pioneer Organisation

We send young people of different nationalities on expeditions around the world. Our volunteers get the chance to work with local people to learn about different cultures, and to live in an exciting environment. This often helps them to become more confident and responsible people.

The expeditions

There are ten expeditions every year. Each expedition lasts for ten weeks and takes 150 volunteers. They go to countries such as Chile, Namibia, Mongolia and Viet Nam. Some of our volunteers work with local people to provide important facilities, for example, building schools. Others work in national parks or help scientists do environmental research.

The volunteers

These young adventurous people come from all over the world. To become a volunteer you have to be between 17 and 25; you have to speak English quite well and you also have to be enthusiastic, flexible and hard-working members of a team.

International Young Pioneer Organisation

We send young people of different nationalities on expeditions around the world. Our volunteers get the chance to work with local people to learn about different cultures, and to live in an exciting environment. This often helps them to become more confident and responsible people.

The expeditions

There are ten expeditions every year. Each expedition lasts for ten weeks and takes 150 volunteers. They go to countries such as Chile, Namibia, Mongolia and Viet Nam. Some of our volunteers work with local people to provide important facilities, for example, building schools. Others work in national parks or help scientists do environmental research.

The volunteers

These young adventurous people come from all over the world. To become a volunteer you have to be between 17 and 25; you have to speak English quite well and you also have to be enthusiastic, flexible and hard-working members of a team.

International Young Pioneer Organisation

We send young people of different nationalities on expeditions around the world. Our volunteers get the chance to work with local people to learn about different cultures, and to live in an exciting environment. This often helps them to become more confident and responsible people.

The expeditions

There are ten expeditions every year. Each expedition lasts for ten weeks and takes 150 volunteers. They go to countries such as Chile, Namibia, Mongolia and Viet Nam. Some of our volunteers work with local people to provide important facilities, for example, building schools. Others work in national parks or help scientists do environmental research.

The volunteers

These young adventurous people come from all over the world. To become a volunteer you have to be between 17 and 25; you have to speak English quite well and you also have to be enthusiastic, flexible and hard-working members of a team.