RSVP Volunteers Recognized  at the Senior Citizens Center

With nearly one in every five Americans projected to be age 60 or older by 2030, a great opportunity exists to engage

Friendly Visitors attend appreciation party

older Americans in service to meet critical community needs while contributing to longer, healthier lives.

In honor of Senior Corp Week, several local RSVP volunteers were recognized for their community service this past year.  The Senior Citizen Center and the RSVP partnered Wednesday evening May 16, to celebrate the deep friendships, connections, and accomplishments of these local RSVP volunteers.

What better way to be inspired to volunteer, then to be in a room full of volunteers and their senior friends.  The evening was alive with live music provided by the David Leffler Trio, spaghetti dinner was prepared by youth volunteers Josh Dalbey and James Frances along with great company and stories shared of selfless service.

Guest speaker Mayor Ed Malloy presented the volunteers with their certificates of appreciation. Mayor Malloy also shared how he became inspired to support this program in Fairfield. As a young college graduate, he was a community organizer in the Northeast and was first introduced to the RSVP program and it’s services.

Youth Volunteers Cook for Party Goers

The Mayor said this program has left “a lasting impression” on him forty years later. “It’s one thing to have a vision, it’s another thing to have it come to fruition as I look to all of you here in this filled room tonight.”

RSVP is a national federal program designed to engage volunteers age 55 and over in a way that makes a lasting difference in their communities.  In addition to helping others, older volunteers are also helping themselves by living active, healthy lives through volunteering.

A growing body of research points to mental and physical health benefits associated with volunteering, including lower mortality rates, increased strength and energy, decreased rates of depression, and fewer physical limitations.

Jasmine Bartolovic said, “I am so deeply grateful for my RSVP Friendly Visiting volunteer, Mary Meyer.  Without her I would never have been able to get to my medical appointments and the things that I needed during my recovery.”

Event organizer RSVP Director JoBeth Lewer said, “it was deeply gratifying to have the opportunity to thank  all the loving volunteers who make this program a lasting success.”

Senior Corp Week is an annual celebration of RSVP volunteer accomplishments.  To become a RSVP volunteer, call JoBeth Lewer at 641-919-4752