In july 2016, fort madison area united way and big river united way merged under new leadership and renamed united way of the great river region

The importance of the rsvp program, has expanded to include all of LEE county iowa. Rsvp has been a part of the LEE county community for over 25 years. The rsvp program is well respected and looked upon with high regard by local service organizations, businesses, and individuals. LEE county is an area that uses every resource available. LEE county agencies rely heavily on senior volunteers to achieve community goals while operating on tight budgets. Leaders in the community recognize the importance of the rsvp program in the community. United way/rsvp community partners are selected based on a wide variety of criteria, including effectiveness of current programs, the impact programs have on the community, and the organizations willingness to work with rsvp to provide meaningful and rewarding experiences for the volunteers. The rsvp program currently collaborates with 19 partner agencies to implement and develop collaborative relationships that are beneficial to the organizations as well as rsvp and its volunteers. There is a demonstrated need for improving the reading and financial literacy and improve the overall health in our primary region. An estimated 150 volunteers will serve to help meet these needs in the community. Of this number, 50 rsvp volunteers will be placed in outcome assignments. The rsvp program will provide volunteers to address three important areas in our community all showing a need: 1) reading literacy, 2) vita and 3) healthy futures. The rsvp program will partner with local elementary schools to offer an in school reading and tutoring program for 2ND and 3RD grade students in LEE county, iowa for school year 2021-2022. The goal in 2ND and 3RD grade is to maintain or improve fast scores. The literacy program will match volunteers with a student to improve reading and comprehension. The volunteer would then follow the students? Progress and continue to monitor the student for 1-2 times per week. The rsvp program will offer volunteer tax preparation assistance during tax season, starting in february and ending in april. The goals are to help struggling families increase their financial stability, and help return federal dollars to our local economy. Rsvp volunteers will help low and moderate income families file tax returns with no charge, maximizing the benefits to our clients and to our community. The rsvp program will have offer a food pantry garden project to offer education to clients about gardening, preparation, and consumption of fresh ingredients. Education is the primary goal while maintaining the garden. Many of the people using the food pantry are reluctant to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables because IT is cost prohibitive. The food pantry garden project hopes to educate those individuals on how to, shop for, prepare and store fresh fruits and vegetables to increase a healthier lifestyle. Encouraging healthy eating will benefit our community in many ways far beyond just food in stomachs. Promoting healthy eating education can empower those in need to "help themselves" rather than just accept a hand out. With the help of volunteers plans are to engage the food pantry clients in quarterly education classes and or demonstration at the food pantry. Classes and/or demonstrations will be provided on how to prepare fresh foods, how to incorporate them into your diet, and how to stretch your budget while including nutritious items. The educational classes also will provide recipes to use in the future on how to use fruits and vegetable and food pantry commodities in their regular meal planning. Milestones area agency on agency provides a meal delivery program to address the nutritional health needs of homebound people age 65 and over. Milestones area agency on aging promotes socialization for vulnerable older adults who may be isolated due to P