An estimated 199 unduplicated rsvp volunteers will serve in both mccracken and hickman county over the next year

Some of their activities will include educating the public on nutrition, exercise, money management, reading fluency, healthcare access and independent living. Reading fluency will be promoted through a mentor partnership between one of our partner stations and the local public schools. Rsvp volunteers are recruited as mentors and matched with students who are not reaching reading benchmarks by the end of their respective grade levels. In addition to increasing their reading fluency, the supportive and positive relationship between youth and rsvp volunteers promotes self-esteem and better social skills. Rsvp volunteers will visit their student once a week for an hour at the school. They will choose a book(s) from the school library and read together. This positive role model relationship provides another layer of academic support and guidance for the student. The primary focus area on this project will be healthy futures. At the end of this grant cycle, community members of all ages will be healthier as a result of exercise/nutrition classes, receive food from local assistance programs for healthier diets, become more knowledgeable on utilizing healthcare programs and learn life skills to help with independent living. The mccracken and hickman county rsvp is requesting $77,373.00 in cncs funding for year 1 of 3 for the new grant cycle. Additional income will be supplemented with $7,600.00 in cash match and $30,085.00 of in-kind match from the applicant.