Volunteer Programs

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

The purpose of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is to encourage and support volunteerism among retired and senior adults.  It is a national program funded by the Corporation for National  and Community Service under the National Senior Service Corp.  The local program is sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging under the Land-of-Sky Regional Council. The program is available to persons 55 years old and older living in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties.

WHAT DO RSVP VOLUNTEERS DO?

The variety of volunteer opportunities is almost limitless, depending only upon the interests and skills of the volunteers and the needs of the agencies.  Volunteers do almost anything that paid employees do.  RSVP works with more than 85 government and nonprofit agencies in the four counties. 

Volunteers can select from city and county governments, hospitals and other health care agencies, law enforcement agencies, school systems, nutrition programs, agencies delivering services to the aging and to children; housing programs; art and cultural centers; parks, gardens and hiking trails; and many others.

RSVP VOLUNTEERS- Getting Things Done

RSVP is a cost-effective way to solve critical problems in education, public safety, human needs, and the environment.  Last year, RSVP volunteers provided more than 80 million hours of service to America, valued at more than $1 billion--a 29-fold return on the federal investment.

MAKING RSVP VOLUNTEERISM WORK

The need for volunteers is great and growing.  Public funds are not available to meet all the needs.  Not all positions involve the delivery of services.   Persons are needed to help in our parks, gardens, historical sites, museums, and cultural centers.  Professionally trained persons such as physicians, nurses, lawyers, managers, and computer operators are needed.  RSVP is committed to making the volunteering process work. Users of volunteers are encouraged to make definite job assignments, provide training, furnish work space and resources, and to give recognition for the work done.  Volunteers are expected to be responsible in their work habits, to respect confidentiality, and to show consideration for the agency's clients.  Both the agency and the volunteer should do no less than would be done in a regular work situation.

HOW DO RSVP VOLUNTEERS BENEFIT?

For most volunteers, the greatest benefit is the satisfaction which comes from helping those in need and in making the community a better place in which to live.   If you have free time, volunteering allows you to enrich your life by becoming involved with new and interesting people and work situations.  In many instances, your volunteer activities will allow you to keep your training and job skills current and to apply them in new work situations.  Tangible benefits include excess accident and liability insurance coverage, free theater tickets and Elderhostel scholarships.

HOW DO I APPLY TO BECOME AN RSVP VOLUNTEER?

Retired Senior Volunteer Program Coordinators:
Connie Pegg (connie@landofsky.org)
Henderson and Transylvania Counties

Bennie Norman (bennie@landofsky.org)
Buncombe and Madison Counties

LeeAnne Tucker (leeanne@landofsky.org)
Senior Volunteer Services Administrator

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