Project Grant 17SRANY010

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN 1972 RSVP OF DUTCHESS COUNTY WAS ESTABLISHED ACCORDING TO THE OLDER AMERICAN'S ACT AND HAS BEEN SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF DUTCHESS FOR 45 YEARS. FOR THE PROPOSED GRANT PERIOD, AN ESTIMATED 320 UNDUPLICATED VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE CITIZENS OF DUTCHESS COUNTY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH THREE OF THE FEDERAL FOCUS AREAS. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS AREA, HEALTHY FUTURES, WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: FOOD DELIVERY TO THE HOME-BOUND AND DISABLED, TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND GROCERY SHOPPING, HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ADVOCATING FOR RESIDENTS LIVING IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, RESPITE TO CAREGIVERS AND INCREASING FOOD SECURITY THROUGH FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION. A TOTAL OF 165 UNDUPLICATED RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. IN THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOCUS AREA, VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ASSISTING ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS BY ASSISTING WITH INCOME TAX RETURNS AND ASSISTING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT OUR LOCAL VA HOSPITAL. THE REMAINING AREA, COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, WILL BE SERVICED BY RSVP VOLUNTEERS IN THRIFT SHOPS, ADVISORY BOARD, HISTORIC SITES, HOSPITAL SUPPORT, SERVING CONGREGATE MEALS AT FRIENDSHIP CENTERS AND MORE. AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD, THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES ARE EXPECTED. HEALTHY FUTURES WILL PROVIDE HOME-BOUND, OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WITH FOOD, ACCESS TO MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION AND GROCERY SHOPPING AND COMPANIONSHIP THAT ALLOWS THEM TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. SENIORS, THROUGH EXERCISE, WILL GAIN INCREASED STRENGTH AND BALANCE TO REDUCE RISK OF FALLING. OVER 4,900 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS WILL RECEIVE FINANCIAL LITERACY SERVICES AND OVER 1,500 VETERAN FAMILIES WILL BE ASSISTED. IT IS PROJECTED THAT SERVICE HOURS RENDERED IN ALL THESE AREAS BY RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL TOTAL OVER 62,000 ANNUALLY. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $80,979 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $32,294 IN NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES.