RSVP

Retired & Senior Volunteer Program quilters

Helping those age 55 and over "Re-Invent their Retirement" through service to their community.

RSVP is a national volunteer program sponsored by ADVOCAP and funded by the State of Wisconsin, The Corporation for National and Community Service and local, private donations. RSVP promotes volunteerism in those age 55 and over. RSVP works with local nonprofit agencies to recruit senior volunteers to assist them in their missions.

The Impact of RSVP volunteers...
This past year,

359 RSVP Volunteers served 32,796 hours in Winnebago and Green Lake counties.

These volunteers helped:

Serve 135,749 meals to elderly persons, allowing these elderly persons to stay independent in their homes.

Build 12 homes for low-income families, increasing the economic stability of these families.

Distribute food to over 347 families, increasing the nutritional and financial stability of these families.

Organize and host TRIAD meetings and 4 special community events which educated over 200 people about safety and quality of life issues confronting seniors.

Distribute 3,300 Files of Life, emergency medical information kits.

RSVP volunteers also:

Made 260 blankets, hats, and mittens for people in need.

Worked 1,218 hours at the local Red Cross, helping prepare and respond to disasters.

Provided daily telephone reassurance to 12 seniors living alone, giving these seniors peace of mind knowing someone will check on their well-being each day.

Worked with 200 elementary school students, tutoring in reading, math and career exploration.

Provided 3,069 hours of volunteer

The volunteer's investment of time, money, compassion and talents brings big returns to our area.
According to the Independent Sector, an organization that studies volunteering and philanthropy, the most recent estimated dollar value of volunteer time for the State of Wisconsin is $15.41 per hour.
RSVP volunteer service investment has an estimated value of $505,386.

What do RSVP volunteers do?

RSVP volunteers do a variety of things to serve our communities. They may:

Read to children
Befriend another senior
Give another a ride to a medical appointment
Make quilts, blankets or mittens for the less fortunate
Build a home for a family in need or
Serve or deliver a meal to other seniors
Do anything else that appeals to them that impacts others

Volunteers may pick from the over 50 volunteer opportunities that are available. These volunteer opportunities are ones that have custom volunteer job matching and training is available for all interested persons. RSVP offers a satisfaction guarantee. We promise that all volunteers will be satisfied with their volunteer placement or we will happily assist them in finding a new opportunity.

Benefits of RSVP...

You decide where, when, how often and how long you want to volunteer.

You feel rewarded and fulfilled because of your service to the community.

You decide to use skills you already have or to learn new skills to serve the community.

You have permission to say "No Thanks" to any volunteer opportunity presented.

You meet new friends who share your experiences.

You have nearly unlimited options in how you serve the community.

Joining RSVP
Eligibility
Anyone age 55 and over is eligible to become an RSVP volunteer.

Advantages of being an RSVP Volunteer

Customized Volunteer Consultation & Placement

Exciting and Varied Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Training

Individual Volunteer Support

Volunteer Recognition

Mileage Reimbursements

Secondary Accident and Liability Insurance

Signing Up
For more information or to register as an RSVP volunteer please contact:

Oshkosh-Deb Tauer
debraj@advocap.org
2929 Harrison St
Oshkosh, WI 54901    (920) 426-0150 or 1-800-323-0150

Neenah-Laura Harvey
laurah@advocap.org
181 E North Water, Ste 210
Neenah, WI   54956          (920)725-2791 or 1-800-631-2791

Berlin-Angela Curtis
angelac@advocap.org
237 Broadway, Suite C
Berlin, WI 54923 (920)361-9880

RSVP staff will make an appointment to visit with you to find out your preferences and tell you about volunteer positions in the community that you might like.

RSVP Volunteer Stories

One RSVP volunteer, a 90 year old homemaker, took her knitting bag to the Oshkosh Correctional Center every week. She taught the inmates there how to knit. The inmates knitted caps, booties and mittens which were given to the human services department for new babies on their caseload. The inmates looked forward to the volunteer's visit. They were able to learn a new skill and do something meaningful for the community during their incarceration. At the same time, the volunteer found fulfillment in the fact that she could share her skills with the inmates, even at age 90.

Another volunteer puts almost 1,000 miles a month on her car driving people back and forth to appointments, shopping and visits. This volunteer works hundreds of hours a year shuttling people who cannot drive. When asked why she volunteers so much she responded, “it makes my life have meaning and gives something to look forward to each day.”

Through RSVP, retired principals who never lifted a hammer in their pre-retirement lives are now teaching teams of other volunteers to construct homes for Habitat for Humanity. Retired construction workers now read to children each week.

These are just a few of the many stories of older Winnebago and Green Lake County residents making their experience count for the community.

Office Locations/Contact Information

Berlin- Angela Curtis
angelac@advocap.org

237 Broadway, Suite C
Berlin, WI 54923 (920)361-9880