Established in 1971 and now one of the largest senior volunteer organizations in the nation, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) engages more than 296,000 people age 55 and older in a diverse range of volunteer activities. Volunteers deliver meals, visit the homebound and dying, pack food boxes, drive clients to appointments, provide independent living services, recruit and manage other volunteers, and serve their communities in many other ways.
RSVP volunteers choose how, where, and how often they want to serve, with commitments ranging from a few hours to 40 hours per week.
RSVP is open to all people age 55 and over. Volunteers do not receive monetary incentives.
Annual RSVP Statistical Highlights
· Volunteers - 296,100
· Hours Served - 60 million
· Number of Projects - 685
· Organizations Supported - 65,000
· Children Mentored - 80,000
· Children of Prisoners Mentored - 16,000
· Frail Elderly Served - 676,000
· Annual Federal Funding - $50.2 million
· Non-Federal Support - $42.9 million
Benefits as an RSVP Volunteer
· Learn something new every day.
· Use your experience and skills, or develop new ones.
· Know about exciting events in the community.
· Attend volunteer recognition events.
· Receive supplemental accident and liability insurance.
RSVP Volunteers Benefit the Community
· Provide nutritious meals or companionship to homebound seniors.
· Provide transportation for seniors, veterans and persons with disabilities.
· Pack food boxes and snack pacs.
· Serve in the Tennessee Aquarium.
· Assist clients in Memorial Hospital.
· Provide companionship to Hospice clients.