[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING RSVP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S 35 YEARS OF FACILITATING 
                              VOLUNTARISM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE SESTAK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2008

  Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, on behalf of all the citizens of the 7th 
Congressional District of Pennsylvania, it gives me great pleasure to 
recognize the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Montgomery 
on its 35th Anniversary.
  RSVP of Montgomery County, established in 1973, promotes voluntarism 
among persons 55 years of age and older, and provides opportunities for 
them to pursue their interests and use their abilities to help meet 
critical human needs in Montgomery County. This double mission is 
beneficial to all concerned. Major findings from more than 30 rigorous 
and longitudinal studies have found that seniors who volunteer have 
greater longevity, higher functionality, lower rates of depression, and 
less incidence of heart disease. With the large number of baby boomers 
(27 percent of the population) now reaching senior adulthood, RSVP's 
mission is becoming increasingly relevant to society as a whole. While 
volunteers are bettering their own lives, they are contributing 
invaluable service to the community at large. Last year RSVP of 
Montgomery County's 1,300 volunteers contributed more than 100,000 
hours to 300 nonprofit agencies and 11 special programs that RSVP has 
developed to assist vulnerable sectors of society.
  In the area of arts and culture, 112 volunteers contributed 7,725 
hours assisting 30 museums, libraries, historical sites, nature 
preserves, cultural organizations, and performance groups. In the area 
of health, 253 volunteers contributed 30,000 hours working in 48 
hospitals, hospices, rehab centers, adult day care centers, nursing 
homes, the American Red Cross, March of Dimes, Easter Seal Society, 
Wellness Center, and organizations dedicated to specific diseases. In 
the area of Human Services, 691 volunteers contributed 36,000 hours 
working in 78 various human service agencies throughout the county 
including the Women's Center, Manna on Main Street, Meals on Wheels 
programs, hotlines, shelters, soup kitchens, and more.
  Within the 11 RSVP programs, 45 trained volunteers contributed 3,018 
hours of service tutoring over 300 American and foreign-born adults in 
GED, ESL and basic literacy programs; 61 trained volunteers contributed 
2,153 hours working with 200 young elementary school children, helping 
them improve their reading skills and confidence; 17 trained volunteer 
counselors contributed 1,908 hours assisting more than 1,000 seniors 
with health insurance concerns; 77 volunteers contributed 2,634 hours 
assisting frail/homebound elders with nonmedical tasks of daily living; 
15 volunteers contributed 851 hours reading to Head Start children on a 
regular basis; 30 volunteers at Gwynedd Estates contributed more than 
500 hours wrapping new gift books for Head Start children; 9 volunteers 
contributed 213 hours visiting special needs children in their homes on 
a weekly basis, providing the children with companionship and skill 
reinforcement while affording their families needed respite time and 
emotional support; 77 mentors contributed 6,967 hours meeting on a one-
on-one, long-term basis with 82 elementary, middle, and high school 
students whose potential is compromised by difficult life 
circumstances; 27 volunteers contributed 481 hours enhancing emergency 
preparedness awareness in Montgomery County; 84 volunteers contributed 
6,738 hours as tutors, aides, docents, and presenters to children in 
schools and agencies serving youth; 88 volunteer speakers and trained 
clowns contributed 2,064 hours making topical presentations and 
providing entertainment to community organizations, clubs, and nursing 
homes; and 44 retired executives, professionals, managers, and 
technicians contributed 2,973 hours helping nonprofit agencies build 
their capacity and enhance their service delivery.
  Just two examples of RSVP volunteers in action are:
  Ron, a retired businessman, has been a mentor to two brothers--Josh 
who is 10 and Nathan who is 12--through the Pretoge program. 
Originally, Ron was matched with Josh, but he said it broke his heart 
to leave Nathan behind when they went on excursions because the 
brothers are like ``two peas in a pod''. The boys' mother is seriously 
ill with Scleroderma and disabled. There is no family in the area 
except for an absentee father. The boys take care of their mother by 
cooking, cleaning, feeding her when necessary and remaining quiet so 
that she can rest. Both boys are motivated to do well and are well-
behaved, but needed someone to build their confidence and take them on 
outings. Ron has taken them to the Camden Aquarium, the National 
Constitution Center, Fireman's Hall, the Auto Show, ball games, movies, 
and amusement parks. Ron is married but never had children. On Fathers 
Day last June the boys called him to wish him an honorary Fathers Day. 
At Pretoge's 10th anniversary event in November, Ron brought the boys 
and their mother. At that event, the mother asked to stand and thank 
Ron and Pretoge for all they have done for her children.
  Volunteer, Jan, goes once a week to Conshohocken Head Start where she 
spends two hours reading to the children. She also tries to cultivate 
their observational skills through various activities such as putting 
an item in a bag and asking the children to feel it and guess what it 
is; or putting items on a tray, having the children look at them, and 
then covering them with a towel and asking the children to remember 
what they saw.
  I applaud this great organization and their volunteers for all the 
work they have done and look forward to RSVP of Montgomery County's 
next 35 years of helping seniors help others.

                          ____________________