Project Grant 20SCSGA001

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AREA AGENCY ON AGING, SPONSOR OF RSVP OF PEMISCOT/NEW MADRID COUNTIES SINCE 1986, IS A NON-PROFIT AGENCY SERVING 18 COUNTIES. THE MISSION OF RSVP IS TO ACT AS A MECHANISM IN SUSTAINING A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MEETS CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP OTHERS AND BY BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN RSVP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE UNITED EFFORTS BENEFITS THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA. RSVP IS VITAL TO THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES. UNDUPLICATED ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE (125) RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE, LOW INCOME FAMILIES, SENIORS, VETERANS AND CHILDREN. VOLUNTEERS WILL PACKAGE AND DELIVER NUTRITIOUS MEALS, IMPROVE CHILDREN'S READING SKILLS, PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, GROCERY STORE AND SHOPPING; ASSIST AND RESPOND TO LOCAL DISASTER ORGANIZATIONS, OFFER FREE TAX SERVICES TO SENIORS AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES, PROVIDE OUTREACH TO VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND OTHER NEEDS SPECIFIED THROUGH 13 VOLUNTEER STATIONS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE HEALTHY FUTURES. AT THE END OF THE 12-MONTH PERFORMANCE PERIOD, TEN (10) VOLUNTEERS WILL DELIVER NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO 100 HOMEBOUND SENIORS IN COLLABORATION WITH 4 VOLUNTEER SITES. TWO (2) VOLUNTEERS WILL PREPARE BACKPACKS FOR FRIDAY AT 2 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN PEMISCOT COUNTY, THE STUDENTS ARE REFERRED BY THE SCHOOL AND ARE ON THE FREE/REDUCE LUNCH PROGRAM. FIVE (5) VOLUNTEERS WILL HELP MONTHLY WITH THE FOOD PANTRY TRUCK DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD BOXES AT A LOCAL SCHOOL. EIGHT (8) VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE 600 INDIVIDUALS WITH ACCESS TO FREE TAX SERVICE AND FOLLOW-UP. FIVE (5) VOLUNTEERS WILL RECEIVE TRAINING IN DISASTER SERVICES. FOUR (4) VOLUNTEERS WILL ASSIST CLIENTS WITH ENROLLING IN MEDICARE AND MEDICARE PART D. FORTY (40) VOLUNTEERS WILL ASSIST IN DAILY/WEEKLY PHONE CALLS TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS TO CHECK ON THEIR WELL-BEING. FOCUS AREAS OF VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WILL ALSO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE YEAR. ALSO, FIFTEEN (15) VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, BILL PAYING, SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE OR DIVISION OF FAMILY SERVICES. THIRTY-SIX (36) VOLUNTEERS WILL HELP LOCAL CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS DISTRIBUTE VITAL HEALTH INFORMATION OUT AT ANNUAL HEALTH FAIRS THAT ARE HELD IN 4 DIFFERENT TOWNS. SURVEYS TO EVALUATE PERFORMANCE MEASURES WILL BE CONDUCTED BY ASSESSING 20% OF VOLUNTEER STATIONS AND 10% OF VOLUNTEERS. THE SURVEYS WILL SHOW THAT 80% OF VOLUNTEER STATIONS HAD THEIR NEEDS MET, 95% OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE SATISFIED AT THEIR VOLUNTEER STATIONS, AND 50% MORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES DEVELOPED. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $40,000 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $52,625 NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES AND IN-KIND DONATIONS. RSVP HAS 125 UNDUPLICATED VOLUNTEERS AND 13 WORK STATIONS.