RSVP Washington County Volunteers!

Service Is Ageless

Join the largest volunteer network for adults age 55 and older!! RSVP recruits, trains, and places volunteers over the age of 55 at non-profit and public agencies throughout Washington County. Currently we have over 400 active volunteers working for 45+ partner agencies countywide. Last year those volunteers worked over 50,000 hours. Reasons to connect with RSVP:

• Individualized placement counseling to make sure you end up in the most rewarding volunteer role possible
• Extra liability insurance that covers you from your home to your volunteer placement
• Limited mileage reimbursement (if you qualify) from your home to your volunteer placement
• Recognition events
• Regular informative newsletter

Our History

RSVP has been matching volunteers with rewarding and impactful service since 1971. In 2009 we had 389 volunteers placed with partner agencies. These volunteers provided almost 51,000 hours of service. With a national rate of $20.15 per hour, that makes $1,032,750 worth of donated time in our community!

RSVP is a program of the National Senior Service Corps, a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Our local sponsor has been Lutheran Community Services Northwest, (a 501c3 organization) since 1995.

RSVP of Washington County is a member of the Seniors Serving Seniors Coalition, a statewide group of RSVP programs and other programs providing services to seniors.

We offer volunteer opportunities throughout Washington County, Oregon, including these cities:

• Beaverton,
• Tigard
• Hillsboro
• King City
• Cornelius
• Forest Grove
• Tualatin

RSVP Programs

In addition to providing volunteers with referrals to available volunteer assignments throughout the county, RSVP has two programs of its own:

SKIT – Seniors Keeping in Touch

SKIT is a telephone reassurance program where a volunteer senior calls another. Normally this is a safety call once a day to make sure the client is safe and does not need any help. This service acts as one more level of safety for fragile seniors who live alone. Some volunteers and callers also choose to have a more 'in depth' relationship and chat for longer than it takes for the safety check. Volunteers are trained on what to do if their client doesn't answer the phone and whom to call in such an event. Those over 55 are eligible for this program and it is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for a person who is housebound themselves to volunteer their time.
Download SKIT brochure

SASIE – Seniors Assisting Seniors in Emergency

The SASIE program trains seniors how to assemble emergency kits and how to be prepared for a natural or other disaster. RSVP volunteers demonstrate at-home and to-go kits for groups at churches, retirement residences and other groups of people 55 and older.
Download SASIE brochure

Talking, Listening and Companionship

Purpose of the Role
TLC volunteers regularly visit with residents of nursing homes, adult foster care homes, residential care facilities, and assisted living facilities. This therapeutic resident interaction reduces the isolation and depression experienced by many residents of long term care facilities and provides individual attention that helps residents maintain their maximum level of functioning.

Responsibilities:

• Visit residents of each assigned facility at least once every ten days.
• Engage residents in appropriate communication activities.
• Attend regular support group meetings.
• Complete and submit monthly reports and RSVP timesheets.

Training
TLC volunteers will attend the equivalent of a half-day training course covering information on the importance of social interactions to the basic mental health of the elderly, the aging process and communication skills.

Commitment
TLC volunteers will spend a minimum of four hours a month at their assigned facilities, attend regular support groups and submit monthly reports.

Benefits of volunteering with TLC:

• You are covered by RSVP liability insurance, can claim mileage for trips to and from the facility, receive a quarterly newsletter and are eligible for recognition activities
• You have the chance to have a direct and positive impact for others
• Free training and support
• Continuing education opportunities
• Improve someone’s quality of life

Download TLC brochure

Partner Agencies

RSVP of Washington County partners with the following agencies. We've listed a few sample volunteer assignments to give you some idea of the variety of opportunities.

• American Red Cross – help locally during blood drives
• Care to Share – help with this food pantry as it provides food to those needing it
• Cedar Mill Community Library – assist in various capacities in this vibrant community library
• City of Beaverton
• Cornelius Civic Club – be a part of this local group that works for the Cornelius community
• Cornelius Police Department Family Bridge - Work with homeless families using this day shelter
• Family Friends – Be a mentor to a child living with chronic illness
• Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce
• Forest Grove Senior Center/Meals on Wheels – help deliver meals to seniors in their homes
• Habitat for Humanity
• Hillsboro Senior Center and Gift Shop
• Hillsboro City Libraries – be a part of this energetic library where there's a job for everyone
• HomePlate
• Legacy Hospice
• Legacy Meridian Park Hospital
• Lullaby Quilts
• Medical Teams International
• North Plains Public Library
• OASIS Reading Program
• Oregon Food Bank – help prepare food boxes, stock shelves, help in the office.
• Oregon State Ombudsman – Spend your time checking in at assisted living facilities to help monitor the care of residents. Great for the advocate in you!!
• Providence St. Vincent Hospital
• Senior Peer Counselors
• Sherwood Senior Center – help the center provide services and activities to seniors
• SMART
• Store to Door – help fill the food bank for local familes
• Tigard Chamber of Commerce
• Tigard Senior Center
• Tualatin Hills Nature Park and Natural Resources
• Tuality Healthcare
• Volunteer Literacy Volunteer Program
• Washington County Council on Aging
• Washington County Aging, Disabilities, and Veteran's Services(SHIBA) – help local seniors learn about medicare and help them sign up for the appropriate programs
• Washington County Historical Museum – Assist this vibrant museum as it continues to keep the history of Washington County alive
• Washington County Sheriff's Department
• Washington County Woodcutters – cut wood and provide it to those in need

Join Us!

Volunteer Forms

• Volunteer Registration Form
• Volunteer Time Sheet
• Mileage Program Registration Form

Newsletters

• Fall 2011
• Summer 2011
• Spring 2011
• Winter 2010

CONTACT US

Office Information:

18865 SW Johnson St, Aloha, OR 97006
Phone: 503-466-4749
Fax: 503-649-1530
Email
Blog: www.rsvpwashco.wordpress.com
And on Facebook!

RSVP Staff:

Sarah Van Dyke, Program Director
Colleen Dorough, Program Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator