The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
RSVP will have new home
Nonprofit moving to administration center in Painesville
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Lake County will soon have a new home.
The nonprofit organization, also known as RSVP, is relocating to the Lake County Administration Center in Painesville effective April 1 and will be overseen by the Board of Lake County commissioners under the direction of Senior Services Coordinator Alyea Barajas.
Currently housed at the Willoughby-Eastlake School of Innovation, RSVP — a federal AmeriCorps Senior program — works to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities to individuals ages 55 and older.
Lake County commissioners recently completed a yearlong strategic plan that focused on priorities related to the county Senior Services levy, determining volunteer services as one such priority.
RSVP currently receives 30 percent of its funding from a federal grant — the remaining 70 percent comes from the Senior Services levy.
According to officials, moving RSVP under the auspices of the county commissioners will both free up levy dollars to be used for other senior programming and provide the opportunity to expand and enhance volunteer services.
The nonprofit will operate under the same umbrella, utilizing the services of the levy, and demonstrating the same productive volunteering, noted County Administrator Jason Boyd.
“RSVP has been a valued partner to the county’s senior services for the last 47 years, and they provide a critical service to help ensure older adults are engaged in the community,” Boyd said. “These services have a positive impact on our seniors in very significant ways, enabling them to volunteer and provide meaningful participation in their community.
“In addition, many of the seniors that volunteer are providing services to seniors in need, clearly a win for all,” he added. “We feel this transition allows for additional growth, not only to volunteer services, but also to help address some of the gaps in services available to seniors.”
The levy provides $4.4 million in funding annually to more than 13 organizations that provide services to Lake County seniors.
As the senior population grows, the commissioners said they will continue to look at ways to increase sustainability and foster creativity to ensure the needs of Lake County seniors are met.
Boyd noted RSVP Director Cristen Kane will work alongside Barajas moving forward.
“We believe Cristen will really expand her skillset, too, in what she brings to the table, above and beyond volunteers,” he said. “She’s been a great champion of the senior community.”
Kane said she’s looking forward to continuing to serve Lake County seniors and expanding volunteer efforts in serving them.
“There will not be any fundamental changes,” she added.
Further details on RSVP’s transition will be communicated to volunteer members and other stakeholders in early 2021, officials noted.