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RSVP & THE VITAL ROLE OF VOLUNTEER WORK
RSVP volunteers prepare to distribute 15,000 gifts and toys to approximately 1,200 kids throughout Rutland County.
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When living in a global pandemic became the new reality in March, RSVP & The Volunteer Center adapted and met the needs of the moment. Signature programs like Bone Builders took workout classes online and recorded at PEG TV. Operation Dolls and More volunteers pivoted quickly to sew and distribute thousands of masks throughout Rutland County, then continued to restore dolls, toys, and books at home. One-2-One transportation program temporarily discontinued some transportation services, but still ensured safe, reliable transportation for critical care patients to and from doctors appointments.
In some cases, volunteer participation has actually increased despite the challenging times.
“In RSVP we have more volunteers reading virtual stories for classrooms than we did previously,” says Alix O’Meara, Director of Volunteer Programs at Rutland Community Programs.
RSVP and its signature programs offer individuals ages 55 and up the opportunity to volunteer for non-profit organizations in Rutland and Addison counties. Volunteer opportunities are diverse, interesting, and speak to individuals of all skillsets. This variety of volunteer options has been crucial for keeping volunteers engaged at a time when social distancing is a must.
“Most of our volunteers want to keep doing something. For a lot of them, this is their social connection. Many of them live alone or have spouses who are ill—this is how they stay connected and find purpose in their lives,” says O’Meara. While the pandemic has presented many challenges, those challenges have also revealed volunteers’ steadfast commitment to their work.
“Most of the (One-2-One) drivers said, ‘Well, they have to get there. It’s not an option,’” says Tammy Brown, Program Coordinator for One-2-One. “We’ve continued to provide transportation for critical care patients. There have been very few cases where I’ve had to tell someone we couldn’t take them where they needed to go.”
When it came to meeting the needs of the moment, RSVP’s mask-making effort was a force to be reckoned with. “Our mask-making efforts started small to begin—we were sewing and providing masks for Rutland Regional Medical Center. Then we branched out to helping all over Rutland County,” says Maryesa White, Program Coordinator at RSVP. The effort involved 22 volunteers who spent 2,268 hours sewing over 4,000 masks in their own homes. Masks were distributed everywhere from Castleton to Killington, and will go out to 13 schools during RSVP Operation Dolls sociallydistanced, drive-through event on November 18.
For many struggling with the toll isolation has taken on their mental health, RSVP’s socially-distanced volunteer opportunities could provide a sense of purpose while serving the community. O’Meara wants to be clear that no effort is too small.
“We want people to know that there are safe options for volunteering that they can do from home. It doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment—no matter what you can contribute, your efforts always make a difference.”
RSVP & The Volunteer Center by the numbers:
Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020)
