An estimated 220 central south dakota rsvp volunteers will serve

Of this number, 45% of unduplicated volunteers will be working on results tied to outcome assignments. Some of their activities will include food distribution and companionship. The primary focus area of this project is "education, K-12 success". At the end of the three year grant, the anticipated output will be the number of students served in the reading buddies program. Impact will be measured by tracking the number of students served. Our target is to have 60 unduplicated and 80 duplicated volunteers read with students. The beneficiaries are not only the volunteers, but the students, whom the volunteers will read with, one-on-one, for 30 minutes weekly, during the academic year at five area elementary schools. Volunteers serving by focus area total 60 in education, 100 in healthy futures, and 60 in other community priorities. The cncs federal investment of $62,137 will be supplemented by $30,224. Our other focus area is "healthy futures" as we focus on "obesity and food" and "aging in place". With 100 unduplicated volunteers providing food pantry support and companionship, our goal is to improve access to food, to increase food security and to maintain senior independence. At the end of the 12 month period, the following outcomes will be achieved; individuals served through the program will report improved food security for themselves and/or their children as a result of food pantry services. Volunteers will serve at area food pantries and distribute food throughout their communities. A survey will be distributed at the food pantries, collected by the work station supervisors, annually to determine their perceived level of food insecurity and the food pantry's impact. Volunteers will provide companionship to the elderly and disabled to increase social ties and support. Data will be gathered through time sheets, which will include the number of individuals served. Towards the end of the grant period an assessment will occur using the senior corps independent living performance measure survey.