You may have heard people mention the term
R.S.V.P. but may not know that it stands for Retired and Senior
Volunteer Program. R.S.V.P.’s purpose is to engage volunteers age 55
and over in community service opportunities which match their skills
and personal interests.
R.S.V.P is an outgrowth of efforts by private
groups and government agencies to address the needs of retired
persons in America. In September, 1987 Pat Leonard, then United Way
Director of Ponca City was instrumental in securing the first grant
for the operation of R.S.V.P. of Kay County. To this day we are
grateful to remain sponsored by United Way of Ponca City: in
addition to funding, they deliver a wealth of management and staff
expertise to support our programs, which serve area communities, as
well as our operations.
RSVP, located at 205 West Hartford in Ponca
City, currently has 672 volunteers residing throughout Kay County
who are providing more than 140,000 hours annually of services at 65
non-profit volunteer stations. For calendar 2009, some of the
outputs which volunteers are projected to achieve include providing
more than 25,000 hours of supportive services in the health care
setting; transporting residents more than 14,000 highway miles to
out of town specialty medical appointments; spending more than 5,000
hours helping area thrift stores to generate profits for non-profit
agencies, and spending about 1,800 hours visiting residents in
nursing homes.
A few of the 65 volunteer stations, nonprofit
agencies which utilize RSVP volunteers to meet first line community
needs, include organizations such as Kay County area Chambers of
Commerce, hospitals and nursing homes, outpatient specialty care
centers, the American Red Cross, public schools, thrift stores, and
museums. Many of RSVP’s volunteers perform routine functions at
these locations to help reduced over head and to help increase the
quantity of services provided.
Rocky Hudson, Director, says that membership in
RSVP comes with several benefits including placement in meaningful
and safe volunteer roles which meet valid community needs, free
supplemental liability insurance, regular recognitions and awards,
as well as free admission to the annual county-wide banquet.
For more information about RSVP membership,
programs, and opportunities please either call us at (580) 762-9412
or visit our website at
www.rsvppc.org.
For more information on United Way and its
member agencies call 580.765.2476.
Retired
and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)