Give volunteering a try

After a long career as an attorney, St. Anthony Park resident Tom Countryman has found enjoyment and purpose in volunteering. He urges others to consider doing the same as they approach or are in retirement.

Volunteering not only helps a person’s community, “it can bring out the very best side of you,” he said. “It can help make the world a better place.”

In his experience, volunteering has taken a varied path. One opportunity has led to another.

Countryman and his wife Suzanne kept busy with family and careers while raising two daughters. “It was hard then to find the time to volunteer much,” he said.

One enjoyable volunteer experience was as a tutor at Murray Middle School, which he was involved in for about 10 years before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Countryman would tutor students one day a week. Although the volunteer tutoring could be challenging, he also found it rewarding. Countryman was able to draw on past experience as a Peace Corps volunteer years ago.

“It certainly made a difference for me, as well as for the students,” he said. Young people today are often negatively stereotyped. “These were good kids and they deserved a chance to succeed.”

He increased his volunteer service toward the end of his working years, as a board member for the nonprofit newspaper Park Bugle in St. Anthony Park. “Someone asked me about being on the board and I thought, well, why not?” He called his six-year board tenure “very satisfying.”

After rotating off of the newspaper board, Countryman became more involved in the St. Anthony Park Area Seniors (SAPAS). He and Suzanne enjoy the group’s activities including a potluck meal once a month.

(SAPAS) is a nonprofit that provides services focused on seniors who are 60 and older and caregivers who live in its service area. SAPAS began in 1981 as the nation’s first block nurse program. It was renamed SAPAS in 2011, reflecting an ex panded service area and expanded offerings. SAPAS works to keep seniors independent and engaged in the community. Many services are delivered by its 130 volunteers, assisted by three staff members.

Countryman is the SAPAS board chair for 2025-2026. A major focus for him is grant writing and fundraising, putting to work the skills he had used for many years to prepare legal documents.

“Grant writing and fundraising letters allow me to use some similar skills,” he said. “I’ve always liked writing and it’s good to be able to use those skills to benefit the organization.”

In the future Countryman said he’d be open to try other volunteer experiences, possibly through another community organization.

What advice does he give other retirees who wish to volunteer? Look for opportunities that meet specific interests and skills. At the same time, people need to know their limits and not overextend themselves. And if something isn’t a good fit, there are other places to give back to.

“If you’re thinking about volunteering, give it a try,” he said. “Many organizations need help.”