Seniors: Volunteer with ACCELERATE through Americorps Senior RSVP

By Marlene Levine
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota

ACCELERATE NORTHFIELD has partnered with the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program for many years. This partnership helps to support our volunteers.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is a national AmeriCorps program and awarded to local organizations to oversee. Catholic Charities has the grant to run RSVP in 20 counties of Southern MN. The RSVP program seeks to connect those aged 55+ with meaningful volunteer opportunities and support the non-profit groups that rely on these volunteers to provide services.

For ACCELERATE NORTHFIELD, this means we get help with volunteer recruitment and recognition and it shows our funders that we partner with other community organizations. The more of you who enroll with RSVP, the stronger that support becomes.

For you as a volunteer, RSVP provides you with supplemental insurance while you volunteer – meaning if you are ever hurt while volunteering, this can help with your out-of-pocket expenses. Coverage is from the time you leave home until you return from your volunteer time. The hope is that you never need to use it, but enjoy the comfort of knowing it is there! Mileage reimbursement is also available for your travel as a volunteer – again from home and back, and including miles you cover while serving others. The average pay out is 15 cents per mile and is capped at $25 per month. This reimbursement is mailed to your home quarterly to use as you wish. You can even donate it back to Accelerate Northfield or the school you volunteer at.

Enrollment in RSVP is simple. You will complete a two-sided enrollment form, and description of the program benefits that appears below. You can return the form to Michael Bishop Garlitz via email (mbishopgarlitz@northfieldschools.org) or mail it to the RSVP coordinator below. You can begin reporting your time and mileage immediately after completing the enrollment form.

Marlene Levine, Retired Senior Volunteer Program
577 State Ave, Ste. 7, Owatonna, MN 55060
507-450-1518
mlevine@ccsomn.org