Sandra White (pictured second from right alongside other VIM) attends training in California.
After retiring, Sandra White discovered a new calling—serving others through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission and finding joy in purposeful work.
By ADRIENNE TRUPIANO
Media Specialist
When Sandra White retired in May of last year, she wasn’t looking for rest—she was looking for purpose. “I didn’t want to just sit around the house,” she said with a laugh. “I like to stay busy, and I like to do things that make a difference.”
For years, Sandra volunteered locally, lending her time and energy to community outreach projects. But after retiring, she wanted to do something more. That desire led her to explore volunteer opportunities with the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) program through Global Ministries.
Before finding her place there, Sandra spent time volunteering at several national parks—serving as a lighthouse keeper at South Manitou Island in Michigan, and later at the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. It was during her time on the Parkway that Hurricane Helene swept through, closing the park and changing her course.
“I was at a retreat at the Billy Graham Center in North Carolina right before the storm hit,” she recalled. “The speaker, Bob Russell, said something that really stuck with me: ‘If you’re retired and you’re not making a difference for eternity, you’ve got to think about what you’re doing.’”
Just days later, as the hurricane hit, Sandra joined Baptist Missions to help with disaster response. “They needed help with housing and paperwork—that’s the kind of background I had in my working life,” she said. “They usually don’t let volunteers into their administrative work, but they had 12 sites open instead of the usual two, so they made an exception. That experience opened my eyes.”
After that, Sandra knew she wanted to focus her energy on faith-based service. She completed her Volunteers in Mission training through Global Ministries last August at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in California. “The training wasn’t hard,” she said. “It covered safety, preparation, and what to expect when serving. It’s really flexible, too. You can serve anywhere from three months to a year—or even just a few weeks, depending on the project.”
One of the landscaping projects Sandra White worked on at Cass Community Social Services.
Today, Sandra spends her weeks volunteering at Cass Community Social Services in Detroit, where she helps with landscaping and outdoor upkeep. “I like being outside and working with my hands,” she said. “It’s what I enjoy most, and they needed it.” She drives to Cass every Sunday, works four days, and returns home on Thursday to stay connected with her home church, South Rockwood United Methodist, where she also serves as Missions Chair and helps run the community garden.
“I’m committed to serving at Cass through Christmas,” she said. “After that, we’ll see where I’m needed next.”
Her time in Detroit has been eye-opening. “You see things differently when you’re here every day,” she said. “There’s a family of six living in a van near the park where I work. I see people walking with all their belongings in suitcases or sleeping bags. You can’t ignore it once you’ve seen it.”
Sandra’s work is not only physical—it’s deeply spiritual. She’s learning to be more intentional about connecting with people she meets along the way. “Sometimes you just say hello, and they say hello back,” she said. “It’s simple, but it matters. You have to be intentional about making contact.”
Looking ahead, Sandra hopes to serve at the Asian Rural Institute in Japan, a sustainable farming education center where leaders from around the world learn to grow food and care for animals before returning to teach their communities. “I run the community garden at my church, so I’d love to learn things there that I can bring back home,” she said. “Plus, I’ve been to Japan before—it feels like it’s calling me back.”
Sandra encourages others who are nearing retirement to consider mission work, too. “It’s easier than you think to get involved,” she said. “You can choose where and how long you serve, and there’s something for everyone—whether you want to do office work, teach, or get your hands dirty outside. It’s just about finding where your gifts fit.”
Her story is a reminder that retirement doesn’t have to mean slowing down—it can mean stepping into a new calling.
“If you’re retired and you’re not making a difference for eternity,” Sandra said, recalling the words that first stirred her heart, “you’ve got to think about what you’re doing.”