Project Grant 19SRSAL004

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LAUDERDALE COUNTY COMMISSION HAS SPONSORED RSVP FOR 42 YEARS AND IS APPLYING FOR THE FY2019 RSVP COMPETITION GRANT. WE HAVE BUILT A CORE OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH AGENCIES LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING, THE POLICE STATIONS, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, FAITH-BASED CONGREGATIONS, THE HOSPITAL, COMMUNITY CENTERS, THE HELP CENTER AND ST. VINCENT DEPAUL CONFERENCE. AN ESTIMATED 425 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES IN GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF LAUDERDALE COUNTY, CITY OF FLORENCE AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES. THESE COMMUNITIES ARE HOME TO A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO WERE LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE IN THE 2010 (CENSUS BUREAU ESTIMATES). UNEMPLOYMENT, HOMELESSNESS, ILLITERACY, AND FOOD INSECURITY ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AREA, SO THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS ARE ACUTE AND NUMEROUS. BASED ON COMMUNITY NEEDS THE LAUDERDALE COUNTY RSVP PROJECTS LOOKS FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT FIT IN WITH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, ALLOW SENIOR VOLUNTEERS TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, PROVIDING ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS COMBATING UNMET COMMUNITY NEEDS AND SUPPORT THE ROLES PARTNERS PLAY BY PROVIDING BASIS SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS. HUNGER IS A CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEED IN THE CATCHMENT AREA. ACTIVITIES THE VOLUNTEERS WILL ADDRESS IN THE COUNTY SERVED; THEY WILL HELP THE SOUP KITCHEN, FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES, HELP WITH FOOD COLLECTION, BAGGING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD AT THE HELP CENTER AND ST. VINCENT DEPAUL THRIFT STORE, DELIVER MEALS-ON-WHEELS, TO HOME BOUND, AND ST. MICHAELS' LOAVES AND FISHES. THEY WILL HELP AN EXPANDING SENIOR POPULATION TACKLE THE LIMITATIONS OF AGING, FIGHTING OFF PARALYSIS OF ISOLATION BY CREATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AND ENGAGEMENT IN FREE ACTIVITIES. CLASSES AND GROUPS. IN ADDITION, THEY WILL HELP LOW-INCOME SENIORS STRETCH LIMITED FUNDS BY PROVIDING EXTRA FOOD. ALL THESE ACTIVITIES FALL INTO OUR PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF HEALTHY FUTURES. OVER THE THREE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD LCC WILL DEPLOY 303 RSVP VOLUNTEERS IN THE HEALTHY FUTURES PRIMARY FOCUS AREA, WITH ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE NATIONAL PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES. 17 WILL SERVE IN DISASTER FOCUS AREA, 68 WILL SERVE IN THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND 136 WILL SERVE IN OTHER COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. HELPING THE ELDERLY, MILITARY VETERANS AND/OR FAMILY MEMBERS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES. LAUDERDALE COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN DANNY PETTUS THE CITY OF FLORENCE MAYOR STEVE HOLT THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $41,817 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $ 42,214