Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Adams & Arapahoe Counties
Background: RSVP
is the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. RSVP places volunteers age 55 and
over in volunteer opportunities in schools, hospitals, food banks, senior
centers, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, etc.
RSVP is a national program formed in 1971, operating in more than 750 chapters
across the United States. There are currently more than 500,000 volunteers in
the RSVP family, who contribute more than 80 million volunteer hours annually.
In 1993, the U.S. Congress established the Corporation for National Service
which brought RSVP under its umbrella. The Corporation provides seventy
percent of each project's funding, while the remaining thirty percent must be
raised by each local RSVP project.
Adams and Arapahoe RSVP is one of twenty Corporation projects in the state of
Colorado. Based at The Senior Hub in Federal Heights, Colorado, Adams/Arapahoe
RSVP serves all of Adams County, as well as the parts of Arapahoe County in
Aurora and east to the county line.
Volunteers may donate as little as a couple of hours a week, or they may spend
much more. It's their choice. There are currently more than 120 different work
stations, and more than 150 different types of jobs available across our
service area.
Benefits: It costs nothing to join RSVP, and
there are no dues. RSVP volunteers are automatically covered by a no-cost
supplemental insurance policy which covers them while traveling to and from
their volunteer jobs, and also during the time that they are volunteering at
their workstations. This no-cost policy is provided as a part of RSVP's
national grant from the Corporation for National Service. Limited mileage
reimbursement is also provided for volunteers whose incomes qualify. All
volunteers receive a quarterly newsletter, the RSVP Volunteer Voice.
They also are treated to an annual recognition luncheon and awards ceremony.
And of course, they receive the deep satisfaction that comes from helping to
meet the needs of individuals and organizations in their local communities.
Becoming involved: Besides providing services to
non-profit organizations and governmental agencies, RSVP is heavily
involved in supporting Colorado initiatives and the local communities it
serves. RSVP volunteers participate in three major federal, state, and local
programs:
1. In association with the American Red Cross, RSVP volunteers have an
opportunity to be trained as trainers for the Colorado Disaster Preparedness
Program called Prepare Colorado, and also one entitled Disaster Preparedness
for Seniors by Seniors. For information contact the RSVP Office at
303-426-4408.
2. In association with BenefitsCheckUp of Colorado, an affiliate of the
National Council on Aging (NCOA), RSVP is participating by training some of
its volunteers to serve as screeners to help seniors access the
BenefitsCheckUp national database to find out which federal, state, and local
entitlement programs they may be eligible for. Screeners are needed across the
project area, but particularly in Aurora and Tri-Valley. Call 303-426-4408 for
information.
3. In partnership with Crossroads of Northglenn Assisted Living and several
other Adams County partners, RSVP of Adams/Arapahoe is helping to develop and
expand a community garden located on the Crossroads property, but benefiting
persons in Western Adams County by providing a place to garden, and a place to
get garden produce. Gardeners are needed so the garden area may be expanded
for the 2006 growing season. For information contact Kay at Crossroads of
Northglenn 303-252-1118, or Tom at RSVP 303-426-4408 X 208.
RSVP and the
Volunteer opportunities will be updated periodically on this website, but for the most current information, or to sign up as an RSVP volunteer, please call Linda Lassley, RSVP Volunteer Coordinator at 303-426-4408 X 204 (email [email protected]), or Tom Rapp, RSVP Director at 303-426-4408 X 208 (email [email protected]).
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