Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – May 2015

Current RSVP members remember to phone your lunch reservation for the May 20 volunteer lunch to Tom at RSVP 303-955-6609 before May 15 so you will be included in the lunch order for our caterer.

Adams/E. Arapahoe RSVP finds volunteer spots for those 55 and up in all of Adams County and Arapahoe County east of I-25. Call Tom Rapp 303-426-4408 or trapp@seniorhub.org to volunteer. Our sponsors are The Corporation for National and Community Service and The Senior Hub, Inc.

Do you have time on your hands and do you want to help others? Volunteering through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is easy. Contact us for an enrollment form so we can match your interests and skills with available volunteer opportunities. We’ll assist in finding something you’ll enjoy and be able to add your volunteer hours to the total we send our federal sponsors to show how much seniors help in our local communities. Here’s a sampling of our current openings:

Community Garden/Food Bank Project: We have about 20 community gardens in southwestern Adams County including Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster and unincorporated southwest Adams County. You grow vegetables for yourself while helping us donate to local food banks. In 2014 we donated 51,000 servings or about 6.5 tons. You can also help by donating produce from your own garden. Contact Tom about a garden near you that can use your help.

Help in elementary schools in our general elementary program, or in our Schools Where All Thrive Tutor/Mentor Program (SWAT) which works with 2nd and 3rd grade students behind in their reading skills. The general program is in all Adams County Schools districts, Aurora and the eastern plains schools. SWAT is in Adams 1, 12, 50 and Brighton 27J. Teams of 4 SWAT volunteers work with 4 students per volunteer. Call Ron Ausmus 303-426-4408 or rausmus@seniorhub.org about SWAT, or Tom Rapp 303-426-4408 or trapp@seniorhub.org about the general elementary education program.

Military Veterans Health and Help Squads: A program with and for (55 or older) military vets and/or their spouses. Squads of vets/vet spouses visit with squad members by phone, or meet to help with activities, share meals or attend events. Some are helping at the Colorado Veterans Home. Both male and female squads are open. Tell your vet friends so they can join with you. It’s fun, call Tom today!

Disaster Preparedness Team: We need locations to present this vital information about being prepared for natural or other disasters. We also need more team members to present. Call RSVP for details.

Home care: Volunteers provide grocery shopping, run errands, do light housekeeping, offer business help or simply friendly visits and telephone reassurance to those who are homebound.

Senior Hub Meals on Wheels (MOW), Aurora MOW and Brighton MOW are short on drivers meaning some folks may not benefit from this vital meal delivery program. To help call Tom at RSVP today!

Other needs: Senior Hub Adult Day service in Northglenn needs helpers Wednesdays at mealtimes and to help with activities during the day. Senior Hub Senior Solutions needs a volunteer Wednesdays, (some lifting is required.) Additional needs: Recycling event helpers; helping at food banks; serving congregate meals; serving in hospitals or senior centers; serving on boards and committees

Yarn Needed: Donate 4-ply, non-wool yarn for our volunteers who make lap robes for nursing homes. Call RSVP for information about the above opportunities and others not listed here.