Norine Rowe, RSVP Manager, speaks to those gathered at the annual RSVP Volunteer Awards Banquet, highlighting the wide range of community services provided by the program’s senior volunteers age 55 and above who serve at more than 30 partnership sites in St. Mary’s County. RSVP volunteers were recognized for their years of service and also received bronze, silver, and gold award pins for their many hours of service in 2014. – Photo by Taylor Gregg
Celebrating the contributions of senior volunteers served as the focus of an annual appreciation ceremony and awards banquet held Friday, March 20, at the Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown. The event marked the highlight of a year of senior volunteer service during which 281 volunteers age 55 and above provided 37,414 hours of community service through the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of St. Mary’s County.
“Senior volunteers are truly one of our community’s greatest natural resources,” said Norine Rowe, RSVP Manager. “Through their contributions of time, talent, and expertise, area seniors are providing important community services that might otherwise go unmet.”
The local RSVP program is part of Senior Corps, a federal program administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service that promotes senior volunteerism as a way to meet critical community needs. Over the past year, RSVP volunteers in St. Mary’s County supported more than 30 non-profit organizations through a wide range of volunteer services.
Volunteers with RSVP of St. Mary’s County are delivering meals and providing medical transportation services to homebound persons. They distribute wheelchairs, walkers, and other medical equipment to persons free of charge through ACTS, a Community That Shares. Additionally, RSVP volunteers are helping to distribute food to persons in need through local food pantries. They are providing computer tutoring and technology instruction, leading health and fitness programs, and promoting healthy futures through a wide variety of volunteer services at local senior activity centers.
“Our senior volunteers, who range in age from 55 to more than 90 years old, prove that age is no barrier to contributing to the welfare of our community,” said Rowe.
Whether providing respite services to families of Hospice patients, teaching literacy skills to adults, or visiting residents of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Rowe explained that RSVP volunteers are helping to supplement the services of paid staff at many local non-profit organizations.
“Most non-profits can’t afford to hire all the staff they would like to meet the needs of our community,” Rowe said. “Senior volunteers step in to fill the gap and, by doing so, they become an active and vital force for good in our community.”
At the RSVP Awards Banquet and Recognition Ceremony, the program’s senior volunteers were welcomed by Lori Jennings-Harris, Director of the county’s Department of Aging & Human Services, which has sponsored RSVP of St. Mary’s County for more than 30 years. Ms. Jennings-Harris noted, “The RSVP volunteers give so much of themselves and ask for nothing in return.”
Also on hand to offer appreciation to the senior volunteers were James R. Guy, President of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, as well as Commissioner Michael L. Hewitt and Commissioner Todd B. Morgan.
To highlight the contributions of RSVP volunteers over the past year, Rowe gave a presentation check for $862,393 to Commissioner President Guy, representing the estimated value of the 37,414 hours of RSVP senior volunteer service in 2014.
During the awards ceremony, RSVP volunteers were recognized for their years of service with the program. They also received bronze, silver, and gold award pins for their hours of service in 2014. The event culminated with the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to volunteer Ronald Talton for his 6,126 hours of services as an RSVP Emergency Services Volunteer with the Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad.
For information on senior volunteer opportunities with RSVP of St. Mary’s County, call Norine Rowe at 301-737-5670, ext. 1653, or e-mail Norine.Rowe@stmarysmd.com.
James R. Guy, President of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, holds a check presented to him by RSVP at the program’s annual volunteer awards banquet. The check for $862,393 represents the value of the 37,414 service hours provided by 281 RSVP senior volunteers in 2014.
Photo: Courtesy St. Mary’s County Public Information Office
Ronald Talton, a volunteer with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of St. Mary’s County, received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award during RSVP’s annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony and Awards Banquet held March 20 at the Forrest Technology Center. Talton received the program’s top award in recognition of the 6,126 hours he has served as an ambulance driver and emergency medical responder with the Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad. Talton also serves on the Squad’s Board of Directors and as the Squad’s Building Administrator. – Photo by Frank Marquart