Fill Up Your Calendar by Volunteering

Are you looking for a way to use your talent and skills and have fun at the same time? Try being a volunteer. It's a great way to help others and get involved in your community.

As you may know, hospitals usually welcome volunteers. Here are some other ideas:

• Children. Give your extra time and attention to children in day care, nursery or elementary schools.

• Community. Serve food in a soup kitchen, teach adults to read at a literacy center, or assist at a shelter for battered women.

• Politics. Flex your political muscles and register voters, distribute information or help at fund-raising events.

• The arts. Help with ticket selling, fund-raising or mailings at a theater, museum or symphony.

• Animals. Help care for dogs and cats at your local shelter. Or, volunteer at the zoo.

• Environment. Clean up parks and beaches, or promote recycling with an environmental group or the park service.

To get involved, call the organization that interests you and ask for the volunteer coordinator. Or, visit the Senior Corps Web site, part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, at www.seniorcorps.org/index.html.