About
RSVP is a national program charged with leading efforts to expand the use of service and volunteering as key solutions that respond to our nation’s most pressing challenges. We have approximately 200 active volunteers who provide all kinds of community services for the citizens of Etowah and Cherokee Counties. Opportunities range from working with young children to working with other seniors, emergency preparation to free taxpayer assistance, working in thrift stores and food pantries to clerical and office help. Volunteer opportunities also exist for those who prefer not to leave their homes: making telephone calls to the homebound; providing reminders by phone; or knitting/crocheting/sewing items for babies or hospice patients. Whatever your interests and skills are, we have a job for you where you will be needed, appreciated, and – most importantly – making a difference! RSVP is a non-profit agency and is funded federally by AmeriCorps, the state of Alabama, and at the local level by the Etowah County Commission.
RSVP is a non-profit program, so donations are always welcome! Cash donations help us administer the program and provide rewards to our senior volunteers. Local merchants are asked for donations of items that can be used for door prizes at RSVP volunteer recognitions.
Call the RSVP Office at (256) 549-8147 and any one on staff will be happy to provide you with more information. If you prefer, you may visit the RSVP Office, which is located at 800 Forrest Avenue, Room 221, Gadsden, AL 35901 (the Etowah County Courthouse).
MISSION STATEMENT: RSVP involves senior citizens age 55 and over in volunteer services within their own communities that match their personal interests, talents, and skills gained from a lifetime of experiences. This improves their quality of life while helping the community and those they serve. If you would like to know more about the benefits of becoming a volunteer with RSVP, contact Traci Pondick.
Volunteer Opportunities
- AARP Chapter #3337
These volunteers have monthly meetings and perform different community service projects.
- Alabama Cooperative Extension Service
Volunteers with this organization work with young people judging 4-H projects and assist with community service projects and educational programs.
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Alabama
Besides mentoring a child, Big Brothers Big Sisters also need volunteers to design and update a website; help with events by delivering supplies, set up and take down event materials; and coordinate and supervise field trips for the children.
- Central-Carver Foundation
The Central-Carver Foundation runs a museum in the Carver Community Center that is committed to preserving the history of Central and Carver schools and the people who attended these schools. Volunteers are docents at the museum.
- Cherokee County Health & Rehab
Volunteers assist with activities such as bingo or entertainment; or help in the beauty shop or with fundraisers.
- Cherokee Village Assisted Living
Volunteers are needed to offer programs or entertainment for the residents.
- City of Gadsden
Volunteers may be needed in the Parks & Recreation Dept., helping with exercise classes or activities at one of the community centers in Gadsden.
- Compassus Hospice
Volunteers are needed to offer respite care for clients; clerical help in the office; or calling clients to check on them.
- Council on Aging
Volunteers may be trained and certified to offer counseling & guidance about the financial opportunities and pitfalls faced by senior citizens or Medicare plans during Open Enrollment; or help at special events.
- El Señor Club
The El Señor Club is a social club that meets weekly at the Senior Activity Center. Volunteers are members of the club and you may be asked to prepare a meal, assist with clerical work or entertainment, and aid in community service projects.
- Etowah Baptist Mission Center & Salvation Army
These organizations operate food pantries & clothes closets, offer free meals to the indigent and financial assistance to help pay rent, utilities or for medicine. They need volunteers to sort donated items to be made available to their clients, interview new clients, or help prepare a meal.
- Etowah County Courthouse Information Desk
We need volunteers in the morning or afternoon hours to sit at the information desk in the lobby of the Etowah County Courthouse and give assistance to visitors needing directions.
- Etowah Free Community Clinic
Volunteers are needed for clerical help and answering the phone or assisting in the medication room sorting medicines.
- Etowah County Pregnancy Testing Center
The Pregnancy Testing Center will train volunteers to perform pregnancy testing, counsel young ladies who are pregnant, and refer clients to agencies for prenatal care, housing, or adoption services.
- Extended Family
Extended Family is a support group for people who have a loved one incarcerated. Volunteers are needed to help with a children’s program at schools, help with fundraising, knitting or crocheting ‘comfort covers’ for children who have to travel to visit a family member, and clerical duties in the office.
- Freedom Center of Gadsden
The Freedom Center is a resource for our homeless population. They need volunteers to sort donations in the food pantry & clothes closet, help clients using the showers or washers/dryers, and serve food.
- Gadsden Public Library
Volunteers are needed with the Friends of the Library to man the bookstore, price donated items to sell, and help with special events.
- Gadsden Quilters Guild
Members of the Quilters Guild learn how to quilt or teach the art of quilting. Some quilts are made to be donated and the Guild also has quilting shows.
- Gadsden Regional Medical Center & Riverview Regional Medical Center
Volunteers at these two hospitals man the information desks in the lobby and on different floors to assist visitors seeking information by phone or in person; they may deliver mail, magazines, or newspapers to patients or clients in the waiting room.
- Greater Gadsden Area Tourism
Volunteers assist with mail-outs and goody bags, and manning a booth at First Fridays.
- Habitat for Humanity
Volunteers assist in public relations, announcements, mailouts, lunches for construction volunteers, application screening, or in the actual construction of a home.
- Head Start
Head Start needs volunteers to monitor on-site visitors, providing them with name tags and retrieving name tags when visitors leave, being sure visitors sign in and out.
- MANNA
Volunteers deliver prepared meals to the elderly & homebound.
- Reading Buddies
Volunteers are needed in local elementary schools to tutor Kindergarten – 3rd graders in reading – thus encouraging better reading skills and comprehension.
- RSVP Community Service
This is a catch-all category for any type of volunteer work not done through one of our partner organizations. You may tutor children, sit with an elderly person, go shopping and pay bills for someone who is homebound, bake a cake for a sick person, do minor home repairs or cleaning for a neighbor in need – it’s all VOLUNTEERING!
- Senior Nutrition Centers
Volunteers at Senior Nutrition Centers help with meals, setting the tables, delivering meals to the homebound, cleaning up after a meal, programs, and presentations. This is a wonderful opportunity to socialize and get to know people.
- Tax Counseling Program
If you’re good with numbers or computers or both, this is for you! Our tax counseling program offers free tax preparation services to low-income or elderly taxpayers at 11 locations across Etowah, Cherokee, & Dekalb Counties.
- United Way
United Way needs volunteers for special events or to help on their allocations panels.
- • If there are other ways or places you would like to volunteer, let us know. Chances are we can help you with that!
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