Social Service - Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

We are here to help community members of all ages connect with volunteer opportunities - whether you're looking to learn new skills, meet new people, meet school requirements, or put your time and talents to good and interesting uses while on seasonal unemployment or summer vacation. Last year, in northern Windsor County, VT and western Grafton County, NH 391 RSVP and Volunteer Center volunteers donated 49,000+ hours through 51 community agencies and municipalities!

30 RSVP & Volunteer Center volunteers from Hartford served over 2,500 hours through agencies in town by:

" Leading free, no-impact weight training classes to increase bone density (Bone Builders)

" Encouraging reading enthusiasm as part of Everybody Wins! (White River Elementary)

" Escorting patients, packaging medicines (VA Hospital)

" Helping make Glory Days! a success.

" Providing clerical support (American Red Cross, VA Hospital, VNA/VNH, and Vermont Earth Institute)

" Decreasing social isolation for frail residents (Brookside, The V.A.)

" Driving people to medical appointments (VT Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired)

" Providing telephone reassurance to elders living alone (Good Morning!)

Additionally, 15 Hartford residents served over 472 hours through other Upper Valley agencies. Plus, volunteers from New Hampshire communities donated over 547 hours through agencies located in Hartford.

Thanks to a Successful Aging Grant from the Council on Aging of Southeastern Vermont, Inc., we have funding through July 30, 2005 to reimburse senior volunteers for mileage to and from their assignments; as well volunteers of all ages with mileage if they are doing volunteer outreach to elders in Windsor County, such as musical entertainment, leading (exercise/craft/adult learning) classes, or doing friendly visiting with elders who are homebound.

Contact us about volunteering and training opportunities through RSVP & Volunteer Center and our community partners. Picture yourself clowning around as part of a troupe, or welcoming tourists to the area, or… Search for other opportunities through our online database at www.volunteersmovemountains.org or email us at rsvp@gcscc.org or call us at 603-448-1825 to set up a time to talk more about your skills and interests.

Teresa Volta, Program Director

The Hartford Housing Authority | Windsor County Partners | Health Care & Rehabilitation of Southern Vermont | Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) | Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) | The Upper Valley Haven, Inc. | Women's Information Services (WISE) | The Vermont Center for Independent Living | Vermont Adult Learning | Visiting Nurse Alliance of Vermont and New Hampshire, Inc. | The Family Place | Headrest | Bugbee Senior Center | Advance Transit