RSVP & The Glens Falls Home, Inc.

The Glens Falls Home, Inc., a local not-for-profit organization which creates opportunities for seniors, announced today its underwriting support for the volunteer program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (“RSVP”). RSVP provides adults age 55 and over with opportunities “to use their life experience and skills to answer the call of neighbors in need.”

Most of the volunteers who work with RSVP are retirees who have long histories of volunteering in their community during their careers, and who continue to donate their time and expertise to local organizations. “These are truly remarkable people,” said Amy Collins, Program Coordinator of RSVP. “They do some of the most important, and often unrecognized, work that is needed by our not-for-profit partners. Our volunteers deliver home-based meals, provide medical transportation, volunteer in offices and provide event support for programs and agencies all across the Tri-County area (Warren, Washington and Northern Saratoga counties). Many not-for-profit organizations rely on these dedicated volunteers to meet their mission and provide critical services available to their clients or the community at large.”

“The Glens Falls Home recognizes that, especially in these economic times, volunteers are a critical component to not-for-profit organizations, especially those serving the needs of seniors,” said Kris Flower, President of the Board of Directors of The Glens Fall Home, Inc. “Our underwriting support will allow RSVP to reimburse volunteer drivers who provide transportation for seniors who need assistance with getting to and from medical appointments and treatment. With the shrinking economic resources of many of our retirees, we wanted to be certain that those seniors who are giving back to this community could continue to help without personal cost.”

The reimbursement to volunteers for eligible travel costs is a requirement of the national RSVP organization. In the past, volunteers frequently donated their reimbursements back to the local organizations, but with the downturn of the economy that directly affects seniors’ income, many were unable to continue their transportation assistance without some compensation for costs.

“Most of our volunteers live on fixed incomes, and need to be reimbursed for their expenses in order to keep providing these critically important services,” said Collins. “This support from The Glens Falls Home will help us to make sure that we are able to meet the needs of senior medical patients and the volunteers who are assisting them.”

RSVP is a federally funded program, funded, through the Corporation for National Service (CNCS) and the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA). Tri-County United Way acts as the local advisory committee as required by RSVP’s charter. For more information about RSVP, or to volunteer, contact them at 743-9158.

The Glens Falls Home, Inc. was incorporated in 1898 to provide residential services for aging women and for over 100 years operated a residence of aged women on Warren Street in the City of Glens Falls. The residence was closed in 2001, and the building was sold. Since that time, the Glens Falls Home, Inc. has been creating opportunities for seniors in the community by partnering in the development and operation of “The Glen at Hiland Meadows” community in Queensbury, as well as in the “Homeward Bound” program of Hudson Headwaters Health Network. For more information about The Glens Falls Home, please call 832-7868.