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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Community cornerstone: RSVP connects seniors with volunteer opportunities

Some people knit or crochet – hats for the homeless, slippers for day cares, blankets for the sick. Other people tutor young students or deliver hot meals, help at the local food bank or sort donations at the thrift shop that supports the American Cancer Society.

Last year, the 208 volunteers in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, of Spokane County contributed 41,260 hours of service to community programs. On average, the crew of recent retirees and anyone older than 55 donated 290 hours each to 29 different community programs. Some volunteers worked an hour a month while the top volunteer spent about 2,300 hours at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop on Garland Avenue.

“People need to feel useful, that’s very important as you get older,” said volunteer Joanna Morris, who has knit with Cheney’s Twisted Sisters – part of RSVP’s Project Warm-Up – group since 2009.

The women get together every Saturday to knit and crochet items that are donated to 47 area charities. The yarn is donated by Avista and the group has given away more than 1,100 pieces. Morris said knitting is something people can do from home, in the car or on an airplane. It’s a great way for homebound seniors or those with mobility issues to contribute to the community and stay active.

In Spokane County, the YMCA of the Inland Northwest has sponsored the program since 1973. Nationally, RSVP is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and older and is overseen by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the same government agency that runs AmeriCorps.

Recently, RSVP of Spokane County received a $101,716 grant from the Corporation of National and Community Service to continue its mission of connecting seniors with volunteer opportunities in the area. The volunteers aren’t paid but they receive mileage reimbursements and supplemental insurance for while they are participating in volunteer travel and activities.

“There’s a lot of newly retired people with kids out of the house who would like to volunteer but aren’t sure how to get started,” said Adam Borgman, the RSVP volunteer coordinator.

He spends a lot of time doing outreach, attending volunteer fairs and senior events to let people know their time is needed. The idea is to match the interests of the volunteer with a community need, whether it’s in schools or community policing or health care organizations and low-income services.

Borgman said it’s a good way for seniors, especially the recently retired, to connect with people and build new friendships.

Morris, 58, still works full time at the Cheney Care Center, but she also volunteers many hours with the Twisted Sisters group, which has nearly 40 members. She knits all the time – it helps her keep from smoking – and enjoys socializing at the Saturday get-togethers. The group includes people of all abilities, including beginners. The ages range from the late 50s to one woman in her late 90s who uses a knitting machine to make hats.

Morris said it’s nice to create things that are useful to people in need and it gives knitters a good outlet because family and friends eventually “get tired of getting afghans.”

She added, “I find it very relaxing.”

The group also makes hats for kids and raffled off a quilt but because the nonprofit can’t take money for tickets, they took sock donations. One pair of socks equaled one raffle ticket. Last year they donated 300 pairs of socks to Project Warm-Up.

Some of their projects have included knitting slippers for children at a local day care to wear when their shoes get wet after playing in the rain. The group also made hats for the kids and did a “Tell Me A Story” project where they donated a book and a knitted or crocheted blanket that corresponds to the book for the kids.

“The kids really loved that,” Morris said. “We’ll probably do it again.