MAGNOLIA SPRINGS - Recently, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Outreach Coordinator Jenny White presented at the Magnolia Springs February work session, asking any Baldwin seniors interested in volunteer work to look into what RSVP offers. RSVP is the nation’s largest senior volunteer program and is part of the Department on Aging with South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC).

“RSVP involves seniors 55 and older, whether they’re retired or not, and encourages them to be involved in the community,” said White. “This could be working with nonprofits, working with school groups, just a variety of organizations to give back to the community.”

RSVP has been active in Baldwin County for a number of years, but with the recent growth in population and the increase in the local retired and senior community, White is looking to encourage interested individuals throughout the county to consider signing up as a volunteer. Along with finding interested volunteers, RSVP is also recruiting new volunteer sites. One of the newest volunteer sites came after RSVP signed a memorandum of understanding with the Baldwin County Commission to staff an information desk at the Robertsdale Annex and at the Fairhope Satellite Courthouse to help visitors navigate the buildings and to welcome newcomers to the county.

Other projects include interviewing local veterans for the veterans’ history project, volunteering at Boys and Girls Clubs as homework buddies, and volunteering at Prodisee Pantry.

“Signing up for RSVP doesn’t mean that you have to commit four or six hours every week,” White said. “You can either do regular assignments we have, which is what the volunteers for the Baldwin County Commission assignments will be doing, or we also have a lot of folks that do special events, such as our volunteers at the St. Jude’s fundraiser or the Prodisee Pantry fundraiser. So you can kind of pick and choose; essentially it’s match.com for volunteering.”

Once an individual signs up and is put onto RSVP’s email blast, they receive information about upcoming volunteer opportunities and are able to volunteer their time for whatever suits their interests.

Flyers and RSVP applications are now available at Magnolia Springs Town Hall and Magnolia Springs Public Library. All applicants must submit a copy of their driver’s license for a background check and must clear the background check before becoming a RSVP volunteer.

To learn more about the program or to sign up to become a volunteer, visit RSVP’s website at www.nationalservice.gov/programs/senior-corps/senior-corps-programs/rsvp.