United way of east central iowa (uweci) continues to see the impact that volunteers 55 and better make in our community and is recompeting for the rsvp of linn & jones CO to continue providing this…

United way of east central iowa (uweci) continues to see the impact that volunteers 55 and better make in our community and is recompeting for the rsvp of linn & jones CO to continue providing this impactful resource for our community. Uweci's 55+ initiative engages at least 350 rsvp volunteers with a minimum of 75 serving in cncs approved outcome-based opportunities. Rsvp is a pillar of service for about 40 years. Uweci is leveraging this recompetition to maximize the efficiency and perceived value of rsvp services by alleviating the reporting burden on most volunteer stations. We will recruit and place rsvp volunteers in impactful opportunities. What we will minimize is the number of organizations that have to tie outcomes back to rsvp VS. Non-rsvp volunteers; this has been a struggle for stations due to volunteer management software and station staff turn-over. Uweci will now shoulder this burden by having most outcome-based volunteer activities done with collaborations that uweci runs or is involved in. This will increase the value of rsvp in our community because stations will continue to receive the benefits with a much smaller reporting burden. Rsvp volunteers will support community needs in service activities such as meal delivery, companionship programs, food security, programs focused on education and providing services, distribution of insurance information, building wheelchair ramps and volunteer capacity building; supporting a network of about 40 stations that covering cncs focus areas and objectives. 55+ initiative will connect volunteers with healthy futures, economic opportunity, education and capacity building outcome-based activities. Volunteers will annually increase access to medical care for 150 clients, bring at least $500,000 back to our community in tax returns, help increase academic performance for 20 students, increase the effectiveness, efficiency and/or program reach for 12 stations. We will provide evidence-based programming for aging in place -- independent living through the non-emergency medical transportation work plan. During the upcoming grant period our rsvp director will continue to work with the office of the iowa attorney general to determine the best way that rsvp volunteers can assist with their efforts for elder justice and the local area substance abuse coalition to see how 55+ initiative can support their efforts fighting the national opioid crisis. When an impactful volunteer role is defined we will work with our CSO to add the appropriate work plan(s). The cncs federal investment of $40,000 will be matched with at-least $12,000 in local non-federal resources.