RSVP volunteers find purpose in helping others
What’s your vision of a happy retirement — unlimited time to enjoy hobbies, travel, TV and reading? According to the AARP, staying mentally and physically active isn’t enough. To avoid depression, it’s important to have a sense of purpose.
When asked what they enjoy about their volunteer experiences, a cross-section of RSVP volunteers said helping others gives them that purpose. Some help children learn to read. Others pack produce at a food pantry, teach seniors to use the internet or engage in numerous other community service projects.
After Al Dell’Angelo retired as a counselor at Upper Dublin High School, he became a trail ambassador for Friends of the Wissahickon, assisting Wissahickon Valley Park visitors. But when COVID-19 shut down that program, he turned to RSVP.
“I filled out an online form,” he said, “and (community outreach coordinator) Kathy Stocker got back to me with some options.”
Dell’Angelo chose to help people through the Jenkintown Food Cupboard, which distributes needed food to some 250 Montgomery County families, up more than 50 percent since the pandemic began.
“On Friday I help with the setup, preparing bags of produce. On Saturday I run shopping carts full of food to the storeroom for people who have registered for the program,” he said.
“The amount of food that’s given out is really incredible. Families are well taken care of for the week,” said Dell’Angelo. “The main thing for me is that it’s purposeful. I feel like I’ve been able to contribute at a time when everybody is called on to step up. I’m so impressed with the Food Cupboard and the team I got assigned to.”
A sense of giving back
At the height of the pandemic last year, Donna Knowles, a retired surety claims adjustor, joined the Vello Reading Program. An RSVP collaboration with United Way, the program matches home-based volunteers with elementary students to improve their reading skills. She spends 3 to 6 hours per week coaching kids to read books online.
“It’s absolutely brought me a sense of giving back,” said Knowles. “When I was working and raising a family I didn’t volunteer. I’ve been very fortunate in my life, and giving back now is very important. It’s not just about keeping busy; there’s always something to do around the house. It’s that plenty of people need help, and being able to help them is a real plus.”
Knowles also restocks shelves and packs bags at a food cupboard in Upper Merion.
After she retired from an information technology career, Jan Dalzell took on a variety of volunteer roles. She reads to 3- to 5-year-olds, mentors college students through the Penn State Alumni Association and most recently, she joined RSVP’s Tech Training program, which helps seniors to use the internet.
“It gives me a sense of purpose,” she said. “It’s giving back instead of just writing checks. I can be involved. I have the time now to have personal connections that make a difference in others’ lives.”
Paying it forward
Ron Landes retired as a software engineer in April 2020.