Making a Difference

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is dedicated to providing civic participation and volunteer service opportunities to individuals aged 55 and older. Regardless of education, income, or experience, everyone is welcome to join without any membership dues. RSVP is part of the National Senior Service Corps, primarily funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Sponsored by HCCAA since 1972, RSVP has been serving Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, Mills, San Saba, Llano, and Mason counties since 1971.

RSVP focuses on key areas of national service, including Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and support for Veterans & Military Families. For more information about CNCS-RSVP, visit their website.

RSVP volunteers contribute to a wide range of civic and community service organizations in the core nine-county service areas. They lend their skills and time to Senior Citizens Centers, nursing homes, museums, libraries, civic theaters, crisis pregnancy/abuse centers, food pantries, clothes closets, soup kitchens, animal shelters, public schools, Head Start programs, and offices of numerous civic and community organizations. Volunteers undertake various tasks, including cooking, delivering meals to the aged and disabled, quilting, answering phones, filing, teaching literacy, and providing transportation to medical appointments.

Additionally, volunteers participate in special community programs such as 4-H, FFA, FHA, Boy and Girl Scouts/Brownies, parks/trails cleanup, AARP, American Cancer Society, American Legion/Am-Vets-Auxiliaries, Red Cross, EMS, Non-Profit Community Boards, Volunteer Fire Departments, and Disaster Preparedness/Homeland Security.

RSVP also invites volunteers under the age of 55 to join their efforts. These younger volunteers can serve as community volunteer recruiters, helping to bring in more volunteers for various community services. Their volunteer service hours are used as in-kind contributions to match federal funds.

RSVP provides insurance coverage to all volunteers aged 55 and older through the CIMA Older American Volunteer Insurance Program. This includes accident insurance, personal liability insurance, and excess automobile liability insurance. “Gap” insurance is also provided to volunteers while they are performing their RSVP duties.

The RSVP program offers numerous volunteer opportunities and aims to expand its initiatives with additional funding through grants. These funds help meet critical community needs, such as the RSVP HAPIN (Helping a Person in Need) program.

By joining RSVP, volunteers can make a significant impact on their communities while gaining valuable experiences and connections. For more information about volunteer opportunities, visit the CNCS-RSVP website.