The RSVP of Burlington County provides senior citizens with opportunities to serve as volunteers throughout Burlington County.
The members of Mt. Laurel Township Council took some time at this week’s meeting to honor the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Burlington County as part of the fifth annual National Service Recognition Day.
According to Mt. Laurel officials, National Service Recognition Day gives mayors and county officials across the country an opportunity to highlight the value of community service in American cities and counties.
This year, council chose to honor the RSVP of Burlington County.
With support and funding from Rowan College at Burlington County and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the RSVP of Burlington County provides senior citizens ages 55 and older with opportunities to serve as volunteers in communities throughout Burlington County.
Whether it’s tutoring others, running literacy programs, answering crisis hotline calls, leading fitness and health management classes or visiting other homebound seniors, RSVP of Burlington County provides seniors with numerous ways to give back to others.
According to officials with RSVP of Burlington County, last year RSVP volunteers spent more than 22,000 hours helping their communities with free services valued at more than $500,000.
“All that money saved by just this one small organization,” RSVP director Karen Bennett said as she thanked council for recognizing the program.
Mayor Dennis Riley, in reading from a proclamation at the meeting, described service to others as a “hallmark of the American character.”
Riley praised those who volunteer for their communities with organizations such as Americorps or Senior Corps, two branches of the Corporation for National and Community Service, through which Riley said participants can address pressing challenges facing the nation’s communities in the 21st century.
“Americorps and Senior Corps participants serve in more than 50,000 locations across the country, bolstering civic, neighborhood and faith-based organizations that are so vital to our economic and social well-being,” Riley said.
Riley also described community service as a central part of how cities, counties and states are increasingly turning to volunteerism as a cost-effective strategy to meet their needs when faced with economic challenges.
In thanking Mt. Laurel’s residents who volunteer with the RSVP of Burlington County, Riley described public service as a partnership between private and public groups that helps increase the return on taxpayer dollars.
“National service expands economic opportunity by creating more sustainable, resilient communities and providing education, career skills and leadership abilities for those who serve,” Riley said.
To learn more about the RSVP of Burlington County, visit www.rcbc.edu/rsvp. RSVP members can volunteer weekly or seasonally.
Those interested in learning more can also call or email Bennett at (609) 894–9311, ext. 1498 or kbennett@rcbc.edu.
