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Dear JoBeth,
Many thanks for the RSVP Program in Fairfield! As one who needs
help and is helped, I can tell you that it makes the difference between impossible and possible when it comes to access to the shops and community.
For the while I live in isolation due to health challenges. I must stay at home. Having someone who does errands for me, visits, and is kind, caring and friendly is a God-send in my life.
Much gratitude, Rhiana Levy
Holiday Greetings from JoBeth Lewer-Director-RSVP
As we begin a new year I would like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for the wonderful
RSVP Friendly Visitor Denise Poole with Jo Simmons, Betty Crawford and Ruby McPhail
contributions you made to the Fairfield community throughout 2011. As of December 2011 RSVP has enrolled 75 new volunteers who gave over 1,000 hours of service! The RSVP Friendly Visitors program is growing and now has over 25 volunteers serving seniors in Fairfield. The RSVP Energy Savings Program finished the year Weatherizing 23 homes and more than 50 RSVP volunteers enrolled to serve!
Each of you make a direct and positive difference in the lives of others. I know you have made a difference in my life. It is a great pleasure to serve as the Director for this program. Each RSVP volunteer I meet makes me feel deeply satisfied knowing that together we are indeed creating a better world for everyone, one person at a time.
I feel grateful that I have the good fortune to work with all the caring and kind-hearted people who make volunteering a part of their lives. Thank you all for your ongoing volunteering with RSVP and for helping to make this program a vital service for those in Fairfield.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
We invite you to make MLK Day a day of service—”a day ON, not a day off.” 
Her presentation challenges us all to take action today to create a more just and diversified society, while creating the history of tomorrow. National Days of Service like this one are important reminders to get involved and serve to rally people together to make a difference…but what we hope they do most of all is to inspire ongoing service throughout the year.
*Admission to the evening’s events will be a non-perishable food donation to help stock the new food pantry at New Life Community Church in Fairfield.
Dr. Larry Nash was honored with the Fairfield Volunteer of the Year Award on December 
8th at the Fairfield Entrepreneur Association’s Annual Awards Banquet.
Dr. Nash received numerous nominations for the award based upon his work on two very significant projects in the Fairfield community. Larry has been a leader in accomplishing the Maasdam Barns preservation project and has also been significantly involved in construction projects for the Jefferson County Trails Council.
Larry, along with Dick Reed, initiated the first project at the Maasdam Barns and Larry showcased his skills in carpentry, painting, organization, leadership, fundraising and more. He served as Vice Chairman of the Maasdam Barns Preservation committee from 2005-2009, and was then elected Chairman.
Larry has been a member of the Jefferson County Trails Council since it was formed in 1997 and became part of the core group that built the trails. His projects included calculating bridge materials from plans, as well as building the bridges, installing and repairing fences, clearing fallen trees on the trails and many other tasks.
Over the past 2.5 years alone, Larry has been the major force driving the Maasdam Barns project to completion. According to his logs in 2009 he volunteered 190 hours and in 2010, 230 hours.
Larry reminded the audience that projects on this scale only happen when a group of people pool their talents and give of their time. He graciously accepted the award on behalf of all of the volunteers that worked on the barns and the trails projects.
On December 10, FVC hosted a 
fundraiser event at Morningstar Studios. The evening had a jump start with a swing dance lesson from Andrea and Jeffrey Smith who kindly donated their time to ensure dancers learned some fun, new moves. More than 40 dancers turned out in support of the volunteer center and helped us share in a fun and festive evening.
Raffle tickets were drawn and prizes went to 9 different supporters. Many thanks to our sponsors and donors:
-Verizon -Chief Appanoose Popcorn
-Yummy’s -Breadtopia
-Terry Baker -Brown’s Shoe Fit
-Morningstar Studios -Fairfield Arts and Convention Center
Keep your eye out for our next dance event to come later this winter!
We greatly appreciate all of the support from the community so that we can continue to radiate that support to others.
The Fairfield Volunteer Center helps seniors and those unable to shovel their own walks by maintaining a list of volunteers willing to shovel for others. 
If you are looking for a way to reach out to others, please let us know and we will get in touch with you after a significant snow event. Some individuals seeking assistance have their own shovels so all you have to do is show up…others do not so you would need to bring your own along…please let us know if you have your own when responding so we can better serve those needing help.
Please share this with friends you think might be willing to help out and together, we can make things a bit easier for our fellow residents.
An Update from the RSVP Director: This month I would like to share with you that RSVP now has 10 senior “Friendly Visitors” serving in Fairfield. Our mission is to engage a total of 45 new RSVP volunteers who would be serving 60 senior citizens in our community. We are well on our way and off to a great start! Thanks to each new RSVP Friendly Visitor who has given of their time and has provided companionship to seniors who greatly appreciate reliable assistance and genuine caring.
So RSVP can continue to grow this wonderful program please consider becoming a RSVP Friendly Visitor volunteer today.
To learn more about the Friendly Visiting Program, please see last month’s post.
See How our Retired Senior Volunteer Program is Changing Lives…Changing Iowa
Service through RSVP benefits everyone - it helps volunteers stay active, healthy, and engaged while connecting those in need in our communities with thousands of skilled volunteers. RSVP helps Iowa save taxpayer dollars by reducing healthcare costs while strengthening civic participation. RSVP volunteers do not receive a stipend for the services they provide.
Return on Investment for the State of Iowa
In 2010, 21 RSVP Programs mobilized RSVP volunteers to serve 614,920 hours (49, 570 more hours than in 2009) through 1,300 Iowa non-profits leveraging $10,263,014.00 worth of service to the State of Iowa!
The Fairfield Volunteer Center serves as a clearinghouse for the community, offering countless service opportunities for all ages. We receive volunteer needs from community organizations which go into a database on our website. Folks looking for opportunities to serve can search our offerings to find the organization and activity that best suits them.
Students often report that being engaged in service learning opportunities are some of the most meaningful experiences of their educational career; often providing insight into areas they would like to further pursue in their educational and personal lives. If you know a student needing some service hours, please encourage them to sign up with us, either on our website or in the Fairfield Volunteer Center in the Fairfield Public Library.
The Iowa State University (ISU) Jefferson County Extension Service needs several volunteers who would be willing to do a baking workshop with youth: 4th-7th grade students. The county extension council would pay for all supplies and has a stove and oven so the volunteers would just have to have knowledge of baking and some yummy recipes to share and work on with youth. Timeline would be in late August or early September. If interested, please contact: Sue Henderson, ISU Regional Extension Education Director – Region 19. Phone: 641-777-4354
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