RSVP of Enid and North Central Oklahoma, Inc. 602 South Van Buren www.rsvpenid.org
Our Leadership
RSVP FOUNDATION BOARD
Judy Gregory
Board President
Judy Zaloudek Vice President
Kari DeLier Secretary
Karen Kretchmar Treasurer
Eldon Ames
Dianne Crowley
Chuck Kearney
Vergie Pryor
Kelli Schovanec
J.B. Baker
Amber Fitzgerald
Alex May
Ann Reding
Sherry Summers
Chad Caldwell
Doris Hesser
Brian O’Rourke
Michael Rickman, M.D.
Kyle Whitehead
A NOTE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Our Senior Corps program was launched as part of the national call to service over 35 years ago, and the work of our volunteers have had an incalculable effect on Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant, Major and Noble counties during this time. As an illustration, between the years of 2006 and 2015, RSVP volunteers donated in excess of 2,000,000 volunteer hours– worth over $40 million in financial terms to these communities at present day rates—but priceless in terms of benefit to our community! Every hungry person fed, every medical appointment kept, every child helped to read, every senior supported in their own home, every friendship made and every warm blanket given out makes a difference in the lives of our volunteers and to the people they serve. Success stories blanket the RSVP served communities and we are blessed to be a part of this service. The future of RSVP is bright and allows us the opportunity to open doors for those most vulnerable in our communities.
Christy Baker
MISSION STATEMENT It is our mission to bridge the gap between those who need and those who give. This successful partnership has allowed not only our communities to become enriched but also our volunteers. RSVP helps volunteers to participate in meaningful, challenging, and interesting volunteer work. Do it for others, do it for yourself, do it for the community.
If You Only Knew . . . Oklahoma continues to rank among the top ten states in the nation for food insecurity among seniors. There are roughly 700,000 seniors, age 60 + living in Oklahoma. More than 9 percent, or 1 in 11, are threatened by hunger. Every day, Oklahoma Seniors are faced with the dilemma of not having enough money to pay for rent, utilities, medical bills and prescriptions. At times, support from family and friends is just not enough, and they are unable to stretch their dollar far enough to purchase enough food to sustain their health. Food insecure and low income seniors are at increased risk for chronic health conditions, even when controlling for other factors such as income:
60 percent more likely to experience depression
53 percent more likely to report a heart attack
52 percent more likely to develop asthma
40 percent more likely to report an experience of congestive heart failure
The number of food insecure seniors is projected to increase by 50% when the youngest of the Baby Boom Generation reaches age 60 in 2025. Elderly households are much less likely to receive help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) than non-elderly households, even when expected benefits are roughly the same. We have found that the average income for seniors in need are around $740 a month or less.
RSVP is making a difference
Changing Lives in North Central Oklahoma RSVP supports over 800 seniors who volunteer at over 120 volunteer sites across five counties, serving residents in eight counties. Each year, RSVP volunteers contribute more than 150,000 hours of their time in support of their local communities. According to the “Independent Sector”, this has a total current value of over $3.53 million to their local communities and to the State of Oklahoma each year. Through this service, 100,000 residents, annually, are positively affected by the work of the volunteer and the programs in place. 93% of the recipients of our services have indicated an increase in their happiness, in their food security, that they now have freedom from being confined to their homes, and are blessed by the work through RSVP.
Our History Founded by the call to service in 1976 through the Corporation for National and Community Service, RSVP of Enid has been an advocate for seniors 55 years and older. The mission of the program is to reinvent the seniors’ skills and abilities back into their communities through volunteerism. This is a two fold program in which the volunteer stays independent, needed, and living with dignity and purpose for longer all the while creating much needed programs in their communities. RSVP of Enid provides help and support to local persons by knitting together a range of services available through DHS and its partner organizations and is a key delivery partner for many community-based organizations across Enid and the rest of our 8 county delivery area.
Our Goals In an effort to combat the Senior Trifecta: 1-Being on a low fixed income, 2-having little to no adequate transportation and 3-being physically limited; RSVP instituted 7 new programs to deliver a holistic approach to aging. The programs offered, purely from a volunteer perspective, and for no charge to our seniors, are to help that senior to allow their funds go further creating less stress in their lives due to monetary restraints. The following programs are provided for no charge. A handyman service– an RSVP volunteer provides more than 150 house calls and minor home repairs each month, typically the same day the call is placed. Commodity Box delivery program, through a partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, provides 40 pounds of food delivered to the doorsteps of 308 seniors every month. The Brown Bag Program is provided for those who do not meet the criteria for the commodities, from an emergency pantry through our RSVP Senior Social Center, providing 90 low income seniors groceries to their door steps. The Silver Lining Transportation, provides 200 rides each month for seniors to have complete freedom to run errands or for social activities. Library Book Delivery, Homebound Counseling, and socialization through the Senior Center are also added programs in our goal to helping our seniors achieve their happiness through aging.
The Programs Helping Your Neighbors: Volunteering
Transportation Assistance
Brown Bag Delivery
Telephone Buddies
Senior Center Membership
Handyman Service
Enid Mobile Meals
Homebound Counseling
Library Book Delivery
www.rsvpenid.org
Commodity Box Delivery
MediCare Program Assistance Resource Assistance
(580) 233-5914
The Opportunity Our dream is to provide that holistic approach to aging. That our seniors are no longer food insecure, they have transportation, they find their freedom, that they can honestly consider this their Golden Years. They live with dignity and no longer faced with the financial pressures of having to pay for medicine or groceries, or laying their head down and being hungry. We invite you to join RSVP in our quest. The time is now to make the decision to participate in this life changing opportunity, not only for our seniors, but for all of our families.
Help Us Reach Our $1.8 Million Dollar Goal
Sources of Campaign Gifts 3 - Year Pledges This 3 year journey will:
Identify program needs and growth
Embrace volunteer leadership for those who accept the challenge
Ensure fiscal accountability for all donors
Fulfill a dream of sustainability for future generations
Individuals………………………. $500,000 Foundations…………………….. $400,000 Corporations……………………. $550,000
Bequests…………………………. $350,000