UNITED WAY OF THURSTON COUNTY (UWTC), ON BEHALF OF THE RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP) OF LEWIS, MASON, AND THURSTON COUNTIES, SEEKS THREE YEARS OF FUNDING SUPPORT FROM THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. AS THE SPONSOR FOR THE PAST FIVE-AND-A-HALF YEARS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY INTEGRATED RSVP INTO THE MISSION OF OUR WORK AND HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY BY MOBILIZING PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO MEET IDENTIFIED NEEDS. THE PROJECT WORK PLANS ARE ANCHORED BY A COLLABORATION OF UNITED WAYS IN LEWIS, MASON, AND THURSTON COUNTIES, WHERE THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING TOGETHER. IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, WE RECOGNIZE THE RESOURCES OF OLDER VOLUNTEERS IN CONNECTING VOLUNTEER ASSETS TO MEANINGFUL SERVICE. UWTC LINKS VOLUNTEERS TO MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH MEETS THE CNCS FOCUS AREAS AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. UNITED WAY WORKS TOWARD INCREASING AN INDIVIDUAL?S ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, SUSTAINABLE INCOME, AND GOOD HEALTH. OUR WORK, RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY NEEDS, IS DUAL: PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION. OUR VOLUNTEER AND FUNDING RESOURCES SEEK TO PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM BECOMING AT-RISK AND INTERVENES WHEN INDIVIDUAL?S LIVES BECOME UNSTABLE AND NEED PUBLIC SUPPORT. AN ESTIMATED 180 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE ON BEHALF OF THE RSVP OF LEWIS, MASON, AND THURSTON COUNTIES. OF THIS NUMBER, 100 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE READING BUDDY VOLUNTEERS; WORKING WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO READ AT GRADE LEVEL. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, WE EXPECT TO SEE 12,000 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING EMERGENCY HEALTHY FOOD AND 400 STUDENTS IMPROVE IN THEIR READING ABILITY. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $78,267 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $45,114 THROUGH VARIOUS SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY DONORS, WA STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AND THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING OF LEWIS, MASON, AND THURSTON COUNTIES.