Currently, 798 RSVP members actively volunteer in the project service area
ElderCircle RSVP Project Report
The ElderCircle RSVP Project of Itasca and Koochiching Counties has announced its volunteer members have reached one million hours in community service as of December.
“This number is truly remarkable,” noted RSVP Director Valerie Cromell, “especially because our volunteer members are serving two of Minnesota’s largest, rural counties that have low population densities when compared to their size. Achieving over one million hours certainly signifies that the spirit of volunteering and civic engagement is very strong among adults age 55+ in our local communities.”
Although the RSVP program was first launched in Itasca and Koochiching Counties in 1981, computerized tracking of volunteers and their individual hours didn’t begin until January 1999. “Hours served by RSVP members from 1981 to 1999 are unknown,” remarked Cromell. “It wasn’t until RSVP purchased its first computer that accurate and detailed data has been available.” ElderCircle RSVP utilizes the Volunteer Reporter, a powerful volunteer management database to track data and demographics, and generate reports for its funding sources as well.
Currently, there are 798 RSVP members actively volunteering in the project service area.
During the past 13 years (January 1999-December 2011), a total of 1,554 unduplicated RSVP members age 55 or over contributed an outstanding 1,031,482 hours providing volunteer services throughout the two counties.
Promoting volunteerism and civic engagement is a way for ElderCircle RSVP to tap into the time, talent and experience of the growing ranks of older adults living in Koochiching County. If you are age 55 or over and want to improve your life and health through volunteering, contact ElderCircle RSVP Coordinator Deb DeMuth at 218-999-5441 or deb@eldercircle.org for local volunteer opportunities.
