In Helping Others, Volunteers Find Fulfillment
Sometimes it’s reading to young children. Sometimes a homebound senior needs a bit of help. It could be an 8th grader who thrives with a mentor’s encouragement, or a college-bound veteran seeking to brush up on his math skills.
In these situations and many others, RSVP volunteers provide assistance that is meaningful not only to the recipient, but to the volunteers themselves.
“The seniors that I assist just need a little help to remain independent in their homes, which is their goal,” said volunteer Claire Porter, a retiree who gives about 10 hours per week to RSVP’s Help on Call program. She assists 3 blind people with paperwork and two others with grocery shopping.
“I get a lot of satisfaction from knowing I’ve helped and made a positive difference in their lives,” said Porter. “I’ve volunteered with most of these seniors for several years, so we’ve created a strong bond. Often times, they just need someone to talk to and listen to them.”
Many RSVP volunteers are retired, but any adult 18+ can find and join volunteer activities through the nonprofit agency. Leza Raffel owns and manages a Jenkintown public relations firm. She devotes 1015 hours per month to Tiffany, a Philadelphia 8th grader whom she has mentored for four years in the youth mentoring program.
“I love watching Tiffany evolve from a child to a young lady, and providing her guidance along the way,” said Raffel. “I have only a son, so mentoring a girl has been very fun. I also enjoy learning about her family’s customs and teaching her about mine.” opportunities. Representatives meet potential volunteers at monthly information sessions throughout the area. Senior Volunteer Coordinator Marguerite Cunning is also available by phone and email (610834-1040, ext. 123; volunteer123@rsvpmc.org).
“I like inviting people into our King of Prussia office so I can get the best sense of who they are and what they’re seeking,” said Cunning, “but I can also schedule a phone appointment. I ask people to fill out an enrollment form, and I can secure the necessary clearances as long as they send me a copy of their driver’s license.”
RSVP will host 90-minute volunteer information sessions in Berwyn, Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m., Easttown Library, 720 1st Ave.; Blue Bell, Jan. 9 and March 4, 1 p.m., Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike; Havertown, Jan. 28 and March 25, 10:30 a.m.,
Haverford Township Public Library, 1601 Darby Rd; Media, Jan. 14 and March 16, 10 a.m., Borough Hall Parlour, 301 N. Jackson St.; King of Prussia, 1 p.m., Feb. 4 and by appointment, RSVP, 901 E. 8th Ave., Ste. 200; Springfield, 10 a.m., Feb. 19, Giant Food café, 950 Baltimore Pike.
Helping Kids
In addition to Protégé mentoring, RSVP offers several other opportunities for volunteers to work with kids. The Family Literacy program places volunteers in more than two dozen Head Start preschool classrooms. America Reads volunteers boost young elementary kids’ reading skills. My Free Tutor volunteers use their home computers to help middle and high school students with math.
“I love to read and I love working with children, so this has been a perfect-fit opportunity for me,” said
Jane Longacre, a retired pediatrician who reads to Head Start kids for 20 hours a month in Ambler. She also organized and runs a classroom lending library.
America Reads volunteers often can see their young clients make reading progress. “I love the rewarding satisfaction of seeing children succeed with extra support,” said Linda Mueller, a retired pharmaceutical manager.
“I enjoy the children. They just brighten your day. It’s very rewarding” said Margi Traylor, a retired teacher who works with young readers individually and in small groups.
Phillip Schwartz of Blue Bell jokes that he’s not only in the America Reads program, but also the “Tie The Shoes Program.” A retired pharmacist, he said, “I am in kindergarten with a group of happy, energetic 5- and 6-year-olds. It’s good for my lifestyle – I have to get up and out every day.”
Semi-retired physician Richard Lash tutors both students and veterans in math from his Dallas-area home, using his home computer and My Free Tutor’s white board software. “I found this program by simply searching the web for activities I’d like to do,” he said. “It’s been a joy to help both young students and adult veterans. When the light goes on it’s very satisfying.”
Helping Adults and Families
RSVP links volunteers to dozens of programs for adults and to community nonprofits that serve people of all ages. Retired pharmaceutical research manager Marilyn Hosang volunteers as a Red Cross blood ambassador, a Friendly Visitor to a nursing home, a food server at a soup kitchen and pantry, and a judge at the Delaware Valley Science Fair. She also helps kids through America Reads. She said her food pantry role, “reminds me how blessed I am that I have food to put on my table.”
For six years, retired customer service trainer Amy Kokoles has helped seniors and people with disabilities apply for Medicare through the Apprise program. “I love spending time with our clients,” she said. “It brings me joy knowing I have just helped someone who may have felt there was no help.”
Ron Gawel, a semi-retired management consultant, life coach and Realtor, has been a member of RSVP’s Volunteer Executive Consultants (VEC) for 12 years. VEC volunteers use their business skills to assist nonprofits in marketing, fundraising, planning and other activities. “Using my background to help struggling nonprofits gives me a great amount of personal satisfaction,” said Gawel, a member of RSVP’s board. “Seeing the results and positive impact of our recommendations only adds to that.”
Help on Call volunteer Dan Gorman sums it up this way: “The most enjoyable aspect of this activity is that the people really need the assistance so I am happy to give it. I get more out of it than I put into it.”
For information about volunteering attend an upcoming information session or visit www. rsvpmc.org or call 610834-1040 x.123.