by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, based in St. Cloud, offers volunteer options almost literally from A to Z for residents 55 and older in the counties of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns.
Currently, there are 1,248 members of the RSVP program who work close to 160,000 hours of service in the three-county area for a staggering number of agencies and services – 196, to be exact. (See related story about Don Posch.)
RSVP volunteers can work as few or as many hours as they like per month. The following are just a few of the venues where they contribute their time and talents: hospitals, senior-care centers, schools, law-enforcement agencies, emergency management, libraries, universities, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, dining programs, food shelves, city offices and more – much more.
RSVP began in 1973 in the greater St. Cloud area, an offshoot of the 1965 federal Older Americans Act. In 1978, the St. Cloud-based program was extended from the counties of Stearns and Benton into Sherburne County, as well.
It’s funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service; the Minnesota Board on Aging; the three participating counties; area cities; St. Joseph Township; United Way of Central Minnesota; the Sherburne County United Way; private donations from businesses, individuals and service organizations; and from the volunteers themselves.
“We can always use more volunteers,” said Lisa Braun, RSVP director. “There are so many unmet needs. The best thing about RSVP is people can work whatever amount of hours they choose. Most work two to four hours per week. Another great thing about RSVP is we can help volunteers find volunteer jobs they really love to do.”
Braun noted there are many studies that prove volunteering can extend a person’s longevity and make lives more rewarding and happier because they are connecting socially with others as they help improve the world around them. A recent study by Brown University, she said, shows volunteering lowers blood pressure.
The RSVP office is located at the Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive in St. Cloud. Its open hours are from 8 am.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Its number is 320-255-7295.
In Benton County, the RSVP office number is 763-635-4505 or toll-free at 877-560-7787. Charlotte Strei is the Sherburne RSVP coordinator.
Six volunteers of the RSVP program take turns reading from a storybook during the Llama Llama Read-a-Rama event at the St. Cloud Public LIbrary.
Lisa Braun
