by Cindy Wagner

Created on: June 07, 2008   Last Updated: June 11, 2008

Volunteering in Sacramento is a great way to get involved and offers tremendous benefits to both the recipient and the volunteer. Volunteering is a wonderful way to stay active, and staying active contributes to a healthier and longer life. Social connections made while helping can last a lifetime. Teaching and mentoring others enriches and provides boundless satisfaction for the volunteer as well as vital help to Sacramento's local community action agencies. The RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) specializes in connecting volunteers that are a minimum of 50 years old with the right local community agencies so they can share their lifelong knowledge and experience.

The Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance sponsors the RSVP volunteer program, providing an essential safety net for the greater Sacramento area. RSVP partners with the National Senior Service Corps (Senior Corps), a network of federally supported programs that helps people age 55 and older, find service opportunities in their home communities. All RSVP volunteers receive a supplemental accident, personal and automobile liability insurance while traveling directly to and from RSVP related activities.

Volunteers work in an assortment of community venues such as schools, senior centers, TV/Radio stations, libraries, hospitals, nature centers, law enforcement offices and food distribution centers. RSVP volunteers provide assistance and friendship to frail elderly individuals so they can live independently and respite care for live-in caretakers. They teach chess, read to the blind, provide parent mentoring, lead nature hikes and museum tours, or take crime reports for law enforcement.

Over 140 different public and nonprofit agencies in the greater Sacramento Area rely on the services of RSVP volunteers. The diverse needs of each agency provide a wide range of assignment choice to volunteers. To explore volunteer opportunities throughout the Sacramento region call RSVP at (916)875-3631. Website: www.rsvpsacramento.org

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