Project Grant 21SREIA026

AN ESTIMATED 300 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE EACH YEAR. OF THIS NUMBER, 170 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: MENTORING FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS -- A) VOLUNTEERS READ WITH 4-YEAR-OLDS TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR ENTRY INTO KINDERGARTEN, AND B) VOLUNTEERS GIVE LITERACY ASSISTANCE TO K-3RD-GRADE STUDENTS TO HELP THEM READ AT GRADE LEVEL. TAX CONSULTING/COUNSELING -- VOLUNTEERS OFFER FREE TAX PREPARATION TO LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES -- VOLUNTEERS SERVE AS DRIVERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND/OR SENIORS WITH TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA RSVP ANTICIPATES THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: -IMPROVE EDUCATION AND GRADUATION RATES BY PROVIDING VOLUNTEER SERVICES THROUGH MENTORING FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE SERVICE TO APPROXIMATELY 210 KIDS/STUDENTS. -IMPACT AND IMPROVE FAMILY FINANCIAL STABILITY BY PROVIDING VOLUNTEER SERVICES THROUGH TAX COUNSELING (4,500 CLIENTS) AND TRANSPORTATION (150 CLIENTS). VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 4,650 CLIENTS. -STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE OPERATING CAPACITY AT 15 OF OUR 28 RSVP STATIONS BY PROVIDING SERVICES SUCH AS CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE, HOSPICE SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, AND BLOOD COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION. EVEN IN THE CURRENT COVID-19 ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS IMPACTING VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, OUR RSVP VOLUNTEERS ARE INSPIRED TO MEET THE NEEDS AND SERVE THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL IOWA SAFELY IN THE UPCOMING YEAR AND BEYOND. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $89,323 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $41,133 FROM LOCAL AND STATE SOURCES.