Since 1971, RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) has matched the personal interests and skills of seniors age 55 and older with opportunities to help solve significant problems in their communities and meet the needs of their fellow citizens. RSVP volunteers choose how and where they want to serve -- from a few to over 40 hours a week in a wide range of community organizations. RSVP has no income eligibility requirements.
This year, over 20,000 RSVP volunteers in Texas will serve through 28 projects sponsored by local public and private nonprofit agencies, both secular and faith-based. Volunteers may receive reimbursement of some out-of-pocket expenses. Supplemental insurance coverage is provided while on duty.
Healthy Futures is an objective for most RSVP programs. Delivering these meals provides frail and elderly with proper nutrition.
RSVP volunteers provide hundreds of community services. They tutor at-risk youth, computerize information systems for community health organizations, get children immunized, teach parenting skills to teen parents, provide respite for caregivers of Alzheimer's victims, deliver meals to frail elders, establish neighborhood watch groups, respond to local or national disasters, plant community gardens, and provide a myriad of other community services. Through such efforts, RSVP is meeting community needs that strained local budgets cannot afford to address.
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