top of page

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

RSVP is America’s largest volunteer network for people age 55 and over.  There are over 500,000 volunteers across the country who are tackling tough issues in their communities.  

With RSVP, you can choose
how you want to serve. 

The amount of time you want to give and you choose whether you want to draw on your skills or develop new ones.  You find the opportunity that’s right for you.

The Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) is a program developed primarily to support volunteers 55 and older for various community endeavors. RSVP is currently serving the counties of McDowell, Raleigh, Wyoming, and Mingo.
 

AdobeStock_194205689_01A.jpg

Volunteers Donated a total of 99,650 Hours 

In the past year 605 RSVP volunteers serving the counties of McDowell, Raleigh, Wyoming, and Mingo, have donated 99,650 volunteer hours. Here is a breakdown of those hours. 

  • Volunteers performing telephone reassurance calls, home visits, visits to the veteran's hospital, and with hospice patients donated 51,137 hours.

  • Volunteers at food pantries donated 2,641 hours.

  • Volunteers for Tamarack donated 38 hours.

  • Volunteers for neighborhood watch groups donated 45,834 hours.

There are 405 Community Volunteers

There are also 405 community volunteers under the age of 55, in these 4 local counties, that are organized by RSVP volunteers and help with projects. 

During the past grant year, RSVP volunteers gave over 83,300 hours and the Neighborhood Watch groups conducted over 14,517 patrols.

The RSVP Program is Developed Primarily to Support Volunteers 55 and Older 

When the Council of the Southern Mountains started the RSVP program in June 2003, there were only 2 volunteers. Recently, the program has over 600 volunteers 55 and older and 200 volunteers under the age of 55. 

RSVP is currently serving McDowell, Raleigh, Wyoming, and Mingo counties in various community endeavors: 

  • Currently, there are 17 Neighborhood Watch (NW) groups and 10 designated stations for telephone reassurance calls (the sick, elderly, and shut-ins).
     

  • 31 Volunteers are working with disaster shelters through the American Red Cross. 

  • 30 Volunteers are working with economic development projects with the Tamarack Itmann Food Pantry, Town of Anawalt, and Council of the Southern Mountains.

  • The Tamarack and RSVP are working together for the "Roving Ambassador" program, greeting visitors at the door, giving directions, and acting as a tour guide. 

  • RSVP has currently added a companionship outreach program to its list. This program recruits volunteers to make home visits to the elderly, sick, or shut-ins.  Volunteers have the opportunity to also work with Hospice or make visits to veteran centers

  • 26 Volunteers are collecting and visiting the Veteran Hospital located in Beckley; taking needed supplies to long-term patients
     

  • 8 Volunteers are visiting with Hospice patients

For more information about being a Retired and Senior Volunteer, contact:

Donna Turner, RSVP Director
P: (304) 327-5305

bottom of page