RSVP provides an organizational framework through which active men and women who are at least fifty-five years of age are recruited, screened, placed, tracked and recognized as they volunteer in community agencies that address social, health, educational, environmental and public safety issues. RSVP offices in Manchester and Nashua support over 850 RSVP Volunteers countrywide who provided 117,000 hours of service in 2006. The benefit of these services to the community is estimated at $2.1 million.
The Voluntary Action Center in Manchester uses volunteerism as a strategy in addressing community needs. VAC provides a friendly and comprehensive point of contact for the recruitment, coordination and referral of volunteers. The Center works with service groups from schools, the corporate world, Communities of Faith, families and seniors. VAC also manages the municipal volunteer program for the City of Manchester. A toll-free telephone number, 1-800-VOLUNTEER (1-800-865-868337), connects callers to the nearest voluntary center within the State or interested volunteers or nonprofit agencies can enroll online at www.volunteermanchester.org or email lcollins@snhs.org
This critical thinking and decision-making course has a twenty-five year history in the northeast and is delivered to inmates in county jails by trained volunteers. Thresholds and Decisions is a program of RSVP. Volunteers recruited and trained by RSVP meet weekly with selected inmates for twelve weeks. This program teaches participants to take responsibility for their past, present, and future, and to make good decisions based on the training model. The recidivism rate of graduates of the Thresholds and Decisions Program is 14%, compared to the recidivism rate of the general inmate population, which is over 50%. This is a 36% reduction in recidivism, a remarkable statistic. For more information, contact Sr. Marguerite at 627-5620 x657 or email marguerite290@comcast.net
The Fixit Program provides minor maintenance and repair for Seniors 60 years or older and disabled citizens in Manchester and Nashua. The work is done at no cost to the client by qualified volunteers with a set charge for materials only, if materials are needed. A donation is appreciated as it allows the program to continue offering services to others. The Fixit Program is not only beneficial to seniors and disabled, but also to the volunteer, usually retired women and men who can continue to use their skills while receiving tremendous gratification in helping someone in need. In 2006, the Fixit Program served 141 households with minor maintenance and repairs. Contact Michelle Iller at miller@snhs.org
The Vial of Life is a standard plastic prescription bottle containing vital personal and medical information readily accessible in the home in case of crisis or emergency.
Individuals who live alone, senior citizens, or anyone who wishes to provide for their care in case of fire, sudden illness or other emergency are eligible to receive a vial.
In the bottle is a form that gives the person's name, doctor, information on medical history and medications, and who to notify. It is taped to the upper right hand shelf of the refrigerator.
A red heart decal on the refrigerator door lets emergency personnel know the resident has a Vial of Life.
The vials are distributed free through a cooperative effort between the Telephone Pioneers of America, RSVP, and local fire and police departments.
The Volunteer Services Department uses volunteerism as a strategy to address unmet community needs.
Several programs combine to offer comprehensive services to potential volunteers and
to agencies seeking volunteer assistance.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
The Voluntary Action Center (VAC)
Thresholds and Decisions
The FixIt Program
Vial of Life Program
RSVP Knitters receive yarn donation . . .
Each year Sandy Ward's first grade class at the Pollard Elementary School in Plaistow, NH finds a charity to donate to in some way. Sandy wanted to pick something that impacts the lives of many generations, especially something that would tie in kids and adults. Sandy found the SNHS website with RSVP knitters who knit hats, mittens, scarves, chemo hats, lap blankets for low income families and loved what she saw. Along with Sandy's class, Elizabeth LaRosa's kindergarten joined her efforts in collecting over 116 skeins of yarn to the RSVP knitters! Their donation will warm hearts, hands and feet of many children and elders in the community.
Left to Right: Elizabeth LaRosa, kindergarten teacher at Pollard Elementary; Dee Martin, Director of Volunteer Services; and Sandy Ward, first grade teacher at Pollard.
