Schuylkill County has a larger than national number of elderly residents. However, our older adults have remained spry and active. Must be something in the local water. In my experience, they make up our largest age group of volunteers. You'd be hard-pressed to name a non-profit that isn't enriched by a senior volunteer.
RSVP of Schuylkill County will be celebrating a special birthday this year and the following was provided by Director Carol Bowen.
As a society, we celebrate milestones by marking special occasions. Ringing in the new tear comes with fanfare and a nostalgic look back at the year past, introspection, pledges for change and plans for a better future. For RSVP of Schuylkill County, 2014 contains all these and a celebration of 30 years.
On Jan. 1, 1984, the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services (then known as the Schuylkill County Area Agency on Aging) embarked on implementing a federal start-up grant to launch the Schuylkill County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, a program that engages volunteers age 55 and over to provide volunteer services where needed in the community.
The past 30 years has brought many changes in funding, age requirement, volunteer opportunities, personnel and areas where volunteers serve. Even the name, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, has changed to just RSVP. What has not changed is the dedication of staff and volunteers to provide meaningful volunteer solutions to our community's pressing needs.
Stella Williams, of Tamaqua, and Mary Butera, of Pottsville, were the first two volunteers enrolled in March 1984. Williams signed up to be a friendly visitor for the Area Agency on Aging, helping to alleviate loneliness. Butera became one of the first members of the RSVP advisory council and helped several non-profit agencies with fundraising efforts. Each will be remembered for their energy, compassion and willingness to serve their communities. Since that time, nearly 2,000 volunteers have contributed their time and talents through RSVP.
Today, RSVP has 416 volunteers enrolled and engaged in service to Schuylkill County. They provide support to more than 40 nonprofit agencies throughout the county. Volunteers tutor students in schools, shelve books in libraries, tutor adults in reading and math, work in non-profit gift shops, provide direction and help at information desks in medical facilities, assist non-profits with fundraising initiatives, help resolve issues with Medicare and foster a healthier environment by assisting with recycling efforts, environmental clean-up initiatives and stream monitoring.
RSVP volunteers donated more than 1.58 million hours of service to Schuylkill County over the past 30 years. RSVP is unique in that it enrolls only volunteers over the age of 55 who are placed to serve with agencies on an ongoing basis. They do not just volunteer one time, but become part of the culture of the agency where they serve, helping to meet the goals established by that agency. Many RSVP volunteers have served with agencies for 15 or more years with several volunteering at their agency for more than 25 years.
"As we embark on our next decade (our 31st year) of enhancing the quality of life for Schuylkill County residents we set a goal of increasing the number of volunteers working in significant focus areas by 31," Bowen said.
The focus areas include after-school program homework helpers, tutors for adult literacy, GED and ESL, drivers to take older residents to medical appointments, grocery shopping helpers, visitors to alleviate loneliness, respite care volunteers, ambassadors to identify and access benefits for residents age 60 and over and helpers to prepare and/or deliver meals to homebound residents.
RSVP is funded in part by a federal grant from the Corporation for National and Community Services and the Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners and is locally sponsored and housed at the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services.
If you would like to be part of this wonderful group of people who are striving to make significant changes in people's lives and are over the age of 55, contact RSVP at the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services at 570-622-3103.