Senior Corps Week is an opportunity to highlight the impact of Seniors Corps volunteers in Maine, celebrate their service, and invite others to join.
Senior Corps connects today’s over 55’s with the people and organizations that need them most; they volunteer as mentors, coaches, companions to people in need, and contribute valuable experience and job skills. In celebration of Senior Corps Week, Governor Baldacci will sign a proclamation on July 13th at a special ceremony, encouraging Maine people statewide to participate.
In 2008 Senior Corps Volunteers numbered 2,378 and served more than 620,000 hours. The economic contribution of Senior Corps Volunteers in Maine alone is $12,103,458. The Maine National Senior Service Corps is designed to support and encourage volunteerism among Maine’s older citizens and to promote awareness of a positive, healthy aging process through the senior volunteer experience. The Maine National Senior Service Corps is made up of three separate programs, all of which recruit senior citizens to help address compelling community needs:
• The Foster Grandparent Program recruits people age 60 and older living on low incomes to serve children with special needs and their families in schools, day care centers, hospitals and homes. Volunteers serve 15 to 40 hours per week and in return receive a small stipend.
• The Senior Companion Program recruits people age 60 and older living on low incomes to serve adults with special needs to help them remain independent in their homes. Volunteers serve 15 to 40 hours per week and in return receive a small stipend as well as a portion of mileage reimbursement.
Effective Oct. 1, 2009 minimum age to volunteer lowered to 55 and income guidelines raised.
• The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) recruits people age 55 and over in volunteer service to meet critical community needs and to provide a high quality experience that will enrich the lives of volunteers. They may be of any income level; they are not paid a stipend. They serve from a few hours a week to many more. RSVP volunteers may be placed with any non-profit, public organization or health care organization.
To celebrate Senior Corps Week the National Senior Service Corps of Maine has organized events across the state. Aroostook RSVP will participate at the Rail Fan Day at The Oakfield Railroad Museum on July 18th. For more information contact Eleanor Reese at eleanorreese@aroostookaging.org or call 764-6184.
