RSVP: Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
Information for Existing Volunteers
We try to make it as easy as possible for our volunteers to report the hours they serve. In that effort, you can now email us the amount of time you volunteer! Just email Traci whenever convenient with the following information: # of hours worked, what you were doing, and with what organization you were working. You will receive a response from our office to let you know your message was received. The only time this is not allowed is when you are claiming mileage reimbursement. In that case, we must have your signature along with the signature of your supervisor for accounting purposes.
The Summer Enrichment Program, led by Dr. Gertie Lowe and staffed by RSVP volunteers, was a great success this summer. Over 100 students enrolled and were taught math, science, English and history. This is a beneficial program because students don’t lose what they have already learned before they go back to school, and if a student is falling behind in a subject, they get the extra help they need to stay on track.
Other teaching programs that partner with RSVP is Even Start and Head Start. Even Start is a program of the Gadsden City School System, and they are housed on East Broad Street in the old bank building (801 East Broad). Even Start keeps children whose mothers are still in school, or while the mother works toward receiving her GED. This is not just a baby-sitting service however, these children are taught from an early age, so that they are ready to go into kindergarten and school. Even Start is open during the regular school year. Head Start also operates during the school year and makes sure that young children from disadvantaged families have the necessary tools to make it in school.