The community service society of new york (CSS) is an informed, independent, and unwavering voice for positive action on behalf of more than 3 million low-income new yorkers

CSS draws on 175 years of excellence in addressing the root causes of economic disparity. Our rich legacy of achievement includes serving as the catalyst behind new york's first tenement housing laws; establishing the prototype for the national free lunch program at schools; designing the curriculum for what would become columbia university's school of social work; opening the city's first homeless shelter for men; and creating the prototype for what became the national rsvp. An estimated 2,300 volunteers will serve. Of this number 835 will be placed in outcome-based assignments. The primary focus area of this project is healthy futures. Some of the service activities will include: 1. Nutrition/food support (through meal delivery and food pantry/soup kitchen support). 2. Companionship (to homebound seniors and veterans). 3. Counseling (public benefits). 465 rsvp volunteers will be engaged in these service activities. At the end of the three-year grant, we anticipate that we will have achieved our anticipated outcomes throughout all of our focus areas and work plans. The anticipated outcomes based on the service activities listed above are summarized below and quantified in the work plans. 1. Older adults in need of nutritious meal delivery will feel more socially connected due to the activity of rsvp volunteers. New yorkers experiencing hunger will report an increased level of food security due to the services provided by rsvp food pantry and soup kitchen volunteers. 2. Vulnerable older adults will feel less isolated due to the companionship they receive from rsvp volunteers. Homebound veterans will feel an increased level of social support because of rsvp volunteers. 3. Low-income individuals will improve their access to medical care due to the public benefits counseling they receive from rsvp volunteers. The cncs federal investment of $728,668 will be supplemented by $900,784, which includes the match and excess of the non-federal resources.