Southern Rhode Island Volunteers Seeks to Match Seniors and Volunteer Opportunities in the Region
 
 

 
     We welcomed Debra and Lindsey Tanner to our meeting this past week and they shared some interesting news and information about Southern Rhode Island Volunteers. Debra is the Executive Director and she shared that she couldn’t believe that she’s been blessed to be doing this job for the last sixteen years.
     The organization had its roots thirty-six years ago in a thesis developed by a URI graduate student. He saw a group of older Americans leaving the work force with plenty of energy and enthusiasm and wondered if there might be a place for them in a network of volunteers.
     Since then the Southern Rhode Island Volunteers have placed hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers as docents at museums, greeters in a variety of settings, delivering meals on wheels, 
and stocking shelves at food pantries. It has been estimated that they provide as much as 1.2 million dollars in human services a year now. Last year they provided over 400 medical transport rides, 9,500 meals delivered, racked up 1,000 hours of visitation, 2,500 hours in grocery shopping trips and served over 300 different clients.                                                        
     The work of their agency is more important now than ever before because of the dwindling amount of resources coming from the state and federal government. They used to get some funding to provide their basic network of services but even that has been cut off. Today they rely on donations and grants as well as the volunteer efforts of a number of faithful friends.  
     Lindsay Tanner is the RSVP & Program Director. She joined the team in 2009 and has enjoyed her job as she reaches out to the community and builds relationship with both the people needing services and those who will be volunteering.
     Today the volunteers include people of all ags serving in many different ways in the community. The agency sends volunteers to a full third of the state of Rhode Island. A few of the opportunities that are being offered include volunteering at;
Washington County Fair – Each August youth volunteers meet school and civic service hour requirements at this fun county event while assisting local granges in educating the public about agriculture, animal farming and more.
Animal Rescue League of Southern RI – Families and individual volunteers enjoy walking dogs, visiting with the cats and kittens who are available for adoption, and other animal care activities under the direction of the rescue staff.
South County Museum – Volunteers here are passionate about helping people discover history serving as greeters, docents, receptionists and many other hands-on activities.
Jonnycake Center of Peacedale – Volunteers are delivering food commodities once a week to home-bound - clients of the food pantry every month as well as receiving, sorting and displaying donations of food, furniture, kitchen items, clothing and more.
     President Steve presented the ladies with a book to sign. The book will be donated to the Westerly Children’s Library in their honor as guest speakers at our club meeting.
    To find out more about Southern Rhode Island Volunteers you can check out their website at the following we address: https://www.southernrivol.org/
                               
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