NBC’s Today Show featured Edythe Kirchmaier, who at 105+, uses her humor and upbeat personality to banter with talk show hosts and interviewers. She redefines the meaning of “spry,” recently passing the test to renew her driver’s license, after more than 85 years without so much as a parking ticket, much less a driving violation. Best of all, she’s celebrating 40 years of volunteer service at Direct Relief International, calling it her second home.
Edythe is an important part of the national economy. Seniors contribute huge numbers of volunteer hours, with rates of older volunteers increasing over the last several years. One study reports:
“The proportion of older adults who volunteer 100 or more hours a year is 46 percent higher today than in 1974. Today, 46.1 percent of older adults volunteer 100 or more hours a year while 31.6 percent of older adults volunteered 100 or more hours in 1974.”