Giving Back: Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol

They watch your house while you're gone, or call just to check in and see how the day's going.

Rancho Bernardo's (RSVP) is made up retirees who are at least 50 years old and have a bit of time on their hands they want to use helping out.

Some of them, like Jerry Goldstein, are on their way toward putting in as many or more hours in this second career than they did in the paid working world.

The volunteer group was awarded $1,000 from the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation at its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon on Nov. 22, which will help cover monthly training lunches and a holiday luncheon for seniors.

"It helps us instead of scrounging for money," Goldstein laughed.

RSVP volunteers are trained, though not sworn officers, and provide a variety of services in the community, from monitoring traffic patterns to the daily "hello" check-ins with seniors.

The December monthly luncheon is turned into a celebration for members of the San Diego Police Department's YANA (You Are Not Alone) program, made up of individuals who live alone or don't often get to interact with others.

Another popular service—especially around the holidays—are vacation checks, where RSVPs swing by residents' homes while they are away to make sure everything is in order. Sign up by visiting the RSVPs on the second floor of the .

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