PENDER ADULT SERVICES, INC. (PAS) BASED IN BURGAW, NC IS THE RSVP PENDER SPONSOR. PENDER COUNTY IS THE 5TH FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN NC WITH OUR COASTAL AREA IN RAPID MODE. POPULATION HAS DOUBLED IN SIZE SINCE 1990 AND IS NOW AT 60,958 POPULATION WITH SENIORS (OVER 65) BEING THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION IN NC AND THE NATION. THE OVERALL POPULATION GROWTH IS AT 8.16%. STATISTICS SHOW THAT SENIORS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO REACH 82% OF POPULATION BY 2036. THE POVERTY RATE IS 15%. PAS OPERATES TWO SENIOR CENTERS TO SERVICE THE NEEDS AND ACTIVITIES OF SENIORS IN THE COUNTY. WE ARE CURRENTLY COMPLETING OUR NINTH YEAR AS AN RSVP GRANT RECIPIENT. RSVP CURRENTLY HAS 200 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS WITH PLANS TO ADD 50 ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEXT GRANT/BUDGET YEAR. THE REQUEST WILL HELP SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM'S NEEDS WILL ADDRESS NEEDS IN 6 SPECIFIC AREAS: 1-READING BUDDY 2-MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERY 3- CALL CARE (TELEPHONE REASSURANCE) 4-SUPPORT FOR HOME BOUND SENIORS (RESPITE CARE) 5-SENIOR HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION PROGRAM (SHIIP) 6-ROAD TO RECOVERY (DRIVING CANCER PATIENTS TO APPOINTMENTS)