Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – Sept. 2016

Adams/E. Arapahoe RSVP finds volunteering for those 55 and up in Adams County, and Arapahoe County east of I-25. Sponsors: Corp. for National and Community Service and The Senior Hub, Inc. Contact Tom Rapp 303-955-6609 or trapp@seniorhub.org., about these and other opportunities.

12th Senior Hub Community Yard Sale: Saturday, Sept. 24 Water World 8am-4pm. Vendor spaces $35. See ad elsewhere in this issue and contact Senior Hub 303-426-4408 to sign up.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Adams and Broomfield Counties works to make sure children who can’t live safely at home have a caring volunteer to fight for their right to be safe, be treated with dignity, and have safe passage from foster care. Contact RSVP for more information.

Arapahoe County Human Services Volunteering: Several potential opportunities in the Aurora and Centennial areas: On-Call Respite Volunteer; Foster Family Respite and Support Assistance; Parenting Time Program Assistance; Kidz Night Out; Information Ambassador; Clerical Assistant. Call Tom at 303-955-6609 for more information and organization contacts.

Help in Adams County schools in either our general elementary tutoring program, or in our Schools Where All Thrive Tutor/Mentor Program (SWAT) working with 2nd and 3rd grade students behind in reading. We need many volunteers this Fall. If you love younger kids and have 2 hours a week to donate come join us. We’ll have several SWAT training sessions this Fall, so call Ron Ausmus at 303.993.3062 or rausmus@seniorhub.org about SWAT. Or to learn about the general elementary program call Tom.

Military Veterans Health and Help Squads: This program is for military vets and/or their spouses who are 55 or older. Squads visit by phone, to help with activities, share meals and attend events. Some help at the state Veterans Home. Tell your vet friends so they can join with you. It’s fun. Call Tom now.

Community Garden/Food Bank Project: We have over 20 gardens in Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster and southwest Adams County. Many gardens still need help with weeding and maintaining the gardens to ensure a good harvest for both the gardeners and local food banks. (7.1 tons of produce for the needy was donated in 2015). Contact Tom for details.

Senior Peer Counseling and Companionship Calling Programs: We’ve launched two programs to provide senior peer counselors through the Community Reach Center (CRC) and companionship callers in Senior Hub’s In-Home Care Department. The counseling program will train senior peer counselors to assist senior clients of CRC who don’t require services from a trained clinician. Similarly, the companionship calling program will provide an additional contact for clients of Senior Hub’s In-Home Care program beyond that provided by in-home care workers. Calling can be done from home and won’t require in-person visiting. Call RSVP for information about the two programs.

Other:

• RSVP Disaster Prep Team needs places to present on being prepared for disasters. They also need speakers.
• Meals on Wheels (MOW): Senior Hub (MOW), Aurora MOW and Brighton MOW need drivers.
• Senior Hub Adult Day service in Northglenn needs someone to pick up meals where they’re cooked and bring them to ADS. Help is needed at meals and with daily activities.
• Recycling events.
• Food bank help.
• Congregate meal servers.
• Serving in hospitals or senior centers.
• Serving on boards/committees.
• Short-term opportunities.
• Yarn Needed: 4-ply, non-wool yarn for our volunteers who make lap robes for nursing homes, homeless shelters, and military veterans. Call Tom.