East Valley RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program)

at Time Out, Inc. Pine’s East Valley RSVP volunteers are engaged in proving supportive services at the Isabelle Hunt Memorial Public Library. Apache Junction’s East Valley RSVP volunteers are engaged in food distribution to the homebound and TRIAD, a program to reduce criminal victimization of older persons; to improve quality of life for older adults; and to educate and involve the community in implementing solutions; and enhancing delivery of law enforcement services to the elderly. Pinal County

Casa Grande’s East Valley RSVP volunteers are engaged as 1) Court Appointed Special Advocates at CASA - providing everyday people appointed by a judge to speak up for abused and neglected children in court; 2) pet therapy, patient care, and other supportive services at Casa Grande Regional Medical Center; and 3) environmental education for the University of Arizona’s Project W.E.T. Florence is growing in population and in square miles. From 2000 to 2009, Florence has increased its residential population by approximately 100% and has grown from about ten square miles to more than fifty today. Mammoth East Valley RSVP volunteers are engaged in food collection and distribution for those with critical food needs at the Tri-Community Food Bank. Saddlebrook (near Tucson) East Valley RSVP volunteers are engaged as mentors for teens at the Teens Sew Cool program. Eastern Maricopa County

Mesa East Valley RSVP volunteers are engaged in:

1) providing pet therapy, patient care, and supportive services at Banner Health Hospitals and Medical Centers (Baywood Heart, Baywood Medical, Desert Medical, and Gateway Medical);

2) VIPS motorist assistance and CERT emergency response services at the Police Department;

3) CERT emergency response services at the Fire Department; supportive assistance at the convention and visitor bureau and the Public Library;

4) support services at Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aircraft Museum located at Falcon Field;

5) special volunteer service projects such as 9/11 Patriot Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Cesar Chavez Day, as well as RSVP RecognitionN Events at East Valley RSVP;

6) su***de support group counseling and peer support at EMPACT;

7) meals on wheels, and home management education and mentoring for the homebound at Mesa Active Adult Center;

8) volunteering for school readiness, Head Start, and literacy programs at Maricopa County Head Start;

9) supportive services at Sunshine Acres Children's Home; and

10) food collection and distribution for the homeless and others with critical food needs at Paz de Christo and the United Food Bank. Chandler East Valley RSVP volunteers are engaged in VIPS and CERT services at the Chandler Police Department; and with pet therapy, patient care, and other supportive services at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Chandler Police Department utilizes RSVP volunteers in its VIPS or Volunteers in Police Service program - one of five Citizen Corps partner programs. The VIPS Program provides support and resources for police agencies interested in developing or enhancing a volunteer program and for citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills with a community law enforcement agency. The program’s ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. In Chandler, the VIPS volunteers assist the department in many areas, with a special focus on motorist assistance and supplementing disaster preparation, response, and recovery efforts. Tempe’s East Valley RSVP volunteers are engaged in:

1) tutoring for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley;

2) support services for the City of Tempe’s offices;

3) VIPS motorist assistance and CERT emergency preparedness services for the Tempe Police Department;

4) a su***de prevention helpline and peer support groups at EMPACT;

5) education and support services to protect the environment at Project C.U.R.E.;

6) revitalizing housing and non-profit facilities for low-income senior, disabled, and veteran individuals at Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun;

7) pet therapy, patient care, and supportive services at Tempe St. Gilbert’s East Valley RSVP Volunteer Stations are engaged at Banner Hospice and at Mercy-Gilbert Medical Center. RSVP volunteers at the Banner Hospice station are persons with a deep belief in what they do. They are willing to help make the lives of hospice patients and their families more livable and enjoyable. These volunteers are a part of the hospice team and collaborate closely with the hospice nurse, social worker, certified nursing assistants, chaplain and office staff to create a plan of care that meets the needs and wishes of the patient, family, and caregivers. RSVP volunteers help patients and their families in many different ways: social interaction; emotional support; respite care; improvement in quality of life; errands; light meal preparation; bereavement support; and letter writing. At the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, RSVP volunteers provide services ranging from pet therapy, patient care, as well as service at the medical center’s information desk and gift shop.