The Volunteer Center @RSVP is the place where volunteers come together with the agencies and organizations that need them. Here you will find important information for seniors, emergency contacts, news on homeland security, links to the websites of community volunteer coalitions, and information on how to become a volunteer.
Volunteer Center @ RSVP endeavors to serve its community by providing a corps of volunteers to fill important community roles, and to provide for its volunteers meaningful opportunities for community service relevant to their skills, abilities and interests
The Volunteer Center @ RSVP assists the community in solving important community needs with organized volunteer service. Founded in 1971, the agency has a staff of 2 employees, 7 volunteer office staff and 1,200 active community volunteers with a budget of $191,000. Volunteers of all ages utilize their knowledge and skills in one of 4 signature programs and 93 local non-profit, civic and faith based agencies with a cost of just 53 cents/per volunteer hour. Our Services * For Agencies-recruitment and matching of exceptional volunteers for both long-term, short term and sporadic event needs. Free $1,000,000 agency supplemental volunteer liability insurance. We offer the ability to publicize/recruit volunteer positions at www.volunteerfortwayne.org and agency newsletter. * For Volunteers-Ability to find meaningful and rewarding volunteer positions that utilize their skills, talents and passion for their personal cause. Free supplemental volunteer insurance, recognitions and training opportunities. Signature Programs of RSVP Volunteers * EITC Tax Program- Offering free Federal and State Income Tax preparation to low income families in the Allen County Community. Last year our IRS Certified Tax Volunteers assisted 1,300 taxpayers in 5 language groups and returned $1.3 million dollars to Allen County families. * Community Safety Programs- In partnership with local law enforcement, fire and emergency services, Safe at Home and Safe Net (for memory impaired) provides emergency registration and important contact information to first responders even before an emergency occurs. Over 14,000 registrations provided to community residents. * Share the Warmth –Coats for Kids- Annual county-wide collection program providing 4,500 new and gently used coats to children in local schools, shelters and social service agencies. * Unwanted Medication Collection-Preventing the contamination of our water shed and ensuring safety in our drinking water. Over 6,500 pounds of unwanted medication collected and incinerated at 4 ongoing law enforcement collection sites and 2 annual events.
We have all heard the stories about the poor status of the economy and the unemployment rate going up. Now is your opportunity to help those in Allen County worst hit by the recession. The Volunteer Center @ RSVP has been awarded a Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne grant to start a Mobile Access Team of volunteers that will go to sites around the city and assist citizens in applying for unemployment and food stamps. Both of these programs require on-line applications that are not always easy for those filing for the first time. We are looking for volunteers with great people skills and computer skills. Volunteer greeters and computer/information technology technicians are also needed. Time commitments is for approximately 3 - 4 hours per week. Must be 18 years of age or older to volunteers. Daytime and weekend hours are available. All training will be provided. Volunteers must have good computer and customer service skills and must be comfortable working with people of all different backgrounds. A criminal history check is required and will be provided at no cost. Contact us at inforsvp@aol.com to request a volunteer application.
The Volunteer Center was one of the area’s non profit organizations chosen by the Fort Wayne Tincaps to staff one of the concession stands at Parkview Field during 10 games of the Tincaps opening season. To date, we have received $2,277 from the proceeds of the concession stand sales! This money will assist the Volunteer Center @ RSVP in continuing its mission of meeting community needs with the use of volunteers. Thank you to the Fort Wayne Tincaps and the team of over 35 volunteers that helped with this successful endeavor!
The Volunteer Center announced the results of the 2009 Income Tax Assistance Program in Allen County. With over 50 volunteers donating their time and working an average of 4 -8 hours per week, the program brought back 1. 7 million dollars in the form of tax refunds to the Allen County community. Over 1,200 working families with incomes below $42,000 per year received assistance from the program. Volunteers received training using IRS materials and are trained on using electronic tax preparation software. Most clients reported that they would use their refund to pay bills while a few others reported they would use their tax credit for a down payment on a house. The program is a collaboration between the Volunteer Center @ RSVP, United Way of Allen County, Community Action of Northeast Indiana, Purdue Extension office, the Euwell Wilson Center, St. Mary's Catholic Church, local banks and other members of the Allen County Financial Stability Partnership.
211 is your source for information on social services and help available in the Allen County community. If you are not sure where to call for assistance, call 211 or go to our links page to connect to www.firstcallinfo.org. They will put you in touch with a number of social services agencies, not profit organizations, faith based initiatives and government agencies providing services in our community.
Results of Hospital Volunteer Survey 122 Volunteers were surveyed by telephone during July, 2008. The RSVP volunteers served at one of 5 local hospitals in one of 12 volunteer positions. The volunteers reported that they serve an average of 10 Hospital Departments and have contact with an average of 26 patient/family contact per day. These 164,944 total contacts are much greater that we had anticipated with a total of 10 assignments per shift. 30% had volunteered over 10 years and 9% had served over 20 years. 100% of the participants reported that their hospital was a great place to volunteer. The survey was a great tool for both the volunteer and the hospital administrator to assess the satisfaction of the volunteer and place a value on their service. The Parkview Hospital Administrators were also surveyed and here are some of their responses: • 73.9% reported that volunteer enhance their ability to maintain hospital services with the assistance of RSVP Volunteers. • 82.6% of Hospital Administrators reported that RSVP Volunteers are an important part of the service delivery team at Parkview Hospital. They reported that: RSVP Volunteers assist staff so that the staff may spend more time with direct patient care: • The patients get to their destinations in a timely fashion by patient escort volunteers. • Volunteers are the extra set of eyes and ears in the facility. They make rounds with new admissions and make sure they are aware of important information • Nursing staff is able to spend more time working with patients as the volunteers assist with filing and taking care of important paperwork. • They are able to enhance our customer service and patient satisfaction. • We are able to serve more patients at the Front Desk in the lobby. I REALLY appreciate them. • We are able to better serve more patients per day. Volunteers complete tasks that allow the nursing staff to spend more time at the patient’s bedside. • We could not do our jobs in patient registration efficiently without them! With their help we are able to focus our efforts on the registration process while they expedite the patients to the service area.
Every year Allen County emergency personnel responds to hundreds of telephone calls to homes where there is a possible emergency situation but are unable to gain immediate access. Registering in the Safe at Home Emergency Registration System will provide important contact information to emergency personnel before an emergency occurs. The information you provide is strictly voluntary and confidential and could save your life. Safe at Home information is entered into the computer system share by police, fire and EMS services throughout Allen County. Enrollment is free. Call the Volunteer Center @ RSVP at 424-3505 or email us to inforsvp@aol.com to request an application for the Safe at Home program. Applications are also available in large quantities for neighborhood associations and civic organizations.
Summer is here and with it lots of new and fun volunteer opporutinities! Get involved in the Three Rivers Festival, explore family volunteer opportunities at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo or learn about any of the other volunteer opportunities featured in the newsletter. Get involved!
