This is Senior Corps Week

Front: Kathy Barloon, (Back, left to right): Pat Brockett, Lyle Otte, Lorraine Borowski

The Corporation for National and Community Service is hosting the first ever Senior Corps Week this week to shine a spotlight on senior service.  Across the country Senior Corps volunteers and adults age 55+ are mentoring and tutoring children, responding to disasters, working on environmental projects, and helping frail seniors stay independent.

The Decorah Public Library is the local sponsor for Northeast Iowa RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) which is one of the Senior Corps programs being honored this week.   The library has sponsored Northeast Iowa RSVP since 2001 and during that time, 364 volunteers have devoted 103,125 hours of service in their community. 

The Independent Sector for Iowa places a value on volunteer service at $16.10 per hour (wage and benefits).  Using that calculation, the value of RSVP volunteer service since 2001 amounts to $1,660,506.00.

Northeast Iowa RSVP volunteers do a variety of things at 50 different non-profit agencies, drawing upon the skills and interests of a diverse group of individuals to serve the needs of the community.   RSVP volunteers are found in the schools, libraries, museums, nursing homes, food pantries, tutoring English as Second Language students, delivering meals to the homebound, helping with disaster preparation, providing income tax assistance, visiting the frail elderly in their home, serving on advisory boards and helping with mailings and other clerical needs of small non-profits.  

Anyone wishing to find out more about the RSVP program is encouraged to visit the RSVP web page atwww.decorah.lib.ia.us/rsvp or stop by the RSVP office which is located at the Decorah Public Library or call the library and ask for the RSVP staff at 382-3717 or toll free at 877-806-0623.