How You Can Help HELPS reach more people and spread our message.

HELPS is looking for interested and willing volunteers to share what we have to offer to seniors and disabled persons.

HELPS is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 charity. We are aware of no one else that does exactly what we do anywhere in the US. We represent seniors and disabled that are receiving federally protected retirement in order to receive communication from collectors, stopping collector harassment. HELPS neverturns a qualified person away. Over 40% of Americans over 65 are classified as receiving lower income or live below the federal poverty level. They retire having more debt than ever before. They do not need, nor can they afford, to file bankruptcy. But, if the debts are not paid the collectors can make life miserable.

It does not matter where you live or your life experience any HELPS member can become a volunteer and share what HELPS has to offer. We provide training, literature and support to our volunteers. Below is a list of opportunities:

• Internet Forum moderator: A forum is a place where people can go and ask questions, offer personal advice, and share stories. There is a lot of information available for seniors' with higher incomes but there is limited help on the internet for lower income seniors. This forum will help fill the gap. In order for a forum to be successful it needs participants. Many HELPS clients have experiences and solutions they can share with others facing problems that they once faces. Many of our HELPS clients are very talented with extensive work history in a variety of areas. You can help HELPS turn this forum into a place where lower income seniors or seniors facing financial difficulty can go to get answers. For example this forum can share information about:
  • Subsidized housing
  • Getting on uncollectable status with the IRS
  • Student loan issues
  • Stopping a garnishment
  • Identifying and dealing with con artist
  • When to let a car go back or how to buy a car
  • Credit availability
  • Questions about bankruptcy
  • How to deal with collectors
  • How to get dental help
  • Ongoing medical bills
  Of course, HELPS attorney's will monitor this website and offer their insights. As we all age more and more we are internet/computer savvy and need to reach out to others and be their resource.
• Senior Center Volunteer: Previously HELPS has sent out hundreds of packets of information to senior centers throughout the country by mail. We believe that a personal contact is much more effective in communicating what HELPS does with and for others. We are looking for volunteers to personally meet with directors of Senior Centers. You will schedule a short meeting that would not last more than 10-15 minutes with directors or authorized representatives of a Senior Center. You will be asked to explain, in your own words, how HELPS has changed your life. You will be encouraged to ask the director to look a brief video on our website (if internet is available) that gives more information about our program. We will provide a brief letter for you to read and present to the director or representative. There will be some training provided by phone. We will provide you with literature, posters, newsletters and flyers to give to the senior center director. HELPS pays a modest stipend of $25 to compensate volunteers for transportation costs for each facility a volunteer visits and has a sit down meeting.
• Literature Volunteers: Most seniors have no idea that their Social Security and/or Pensions are protected income and don't know that HELPS is able to provide a program to enrich their lives. Many seniors learn about HELPS by finding our literature, like a poster in Michigan Library, a newsletter in a Georgia doctors' office and a dropped card from a wallet. A poster in a grocery store or senior mobile home park, or places where seniors visit, could very well help your neighbor or seniors where you live. HELPS is happy to provide our volunteers posters and flyers that they can distribute at their leisure.
• A Helps "Friend": We, have many people enroll that are without family or friends nearby. Some of our clients are lonely and would like to be able to talk with someone. Some are widows or widowers living all across the country. We are looking for volunteers willing to be a "friend" on the phone. Contacting your "HELPS friend" once per week asking how they are doing may be just what he or she needs. Our volunteers may be from different states or diferent cultural background. If needed, we can provide brief training over the phone. To join the "friends" family, just give us a call and let us know you would like to participate.
• Facebook: We are amazed how many people learn about HELPS on Facebook. Facebook can be a great place for other seniors to learn about HELPS from your Facebook page. We would like people to get to know us. One of the ways that will be done is to share your story on your Facebook page or place comments on HELPS Facebook page. Or maybe you could post some of the interesting articles from our newsletter on your Facebook. However you can spread the word about the great work HELPS does would be appreciated.

Learn More about Issues Facing Senior Citizens and the Services HELPS provides.