RSVP of Camden County is seeking volunteers
When Charlie Russell lends his ear to fellow seniors in need of legal and financial help, he gets back as much as he gives.
The 82-year-old volunteers at South Jersey Legal Services as part of Camden County’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVP), which connects those 55 and older with meaningful service opportunities that match their skills and availability. Russell called the RSVP “the best thing that could have possibly happened.”
“When my wife passed 11 years ago, I was down in the dumps and feeling sorry for myself,” he said. “I wanted to be out of the house volunteering and working with people. I learned about this opportunity, and it was exactly what I was looking for.”
The Community Planning and Advocacy Council (CPAC) of Camden County, which holds the grant for RSVP, is an independent nonprofit that coordinates the county’s human services programs, said Beth Gebhart, volunteer coordinator for RSVP.
“We have seniors in the American Red Cross working on blood drives, working one-on-one with children in mentoring programs and volunteering in hospitals,” she said. “We have collaborative relationships with more than 35 nonprofits in the area. The opportunities really run the gamut.”
The program also works in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Senior Citizens United Community Services and CASA of Camden County — Court Appointed Special Advocates for children — and more, Gebhart added.
The federally funded RSVP was created in 1971 under SeniorCorps, a branch of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
To start, senior volunteers sit down with RSVP personnel to discuss their interests and background.
“The nice thing about this is that I’m able to know what the agency’s needs are and talk to someone to find out where they might be the best fit,” said Gebhart. “A lot of people have experience with something that’s motivated them to come in.”
For example, she said, a volunteer recently asked to be partnered with hospice because it had been so helpful when he lost both his wife and mother-in-law.
The organizations are flexible with a senior’s schedule and volunteers can participate in more than one program if they wish, she added.
Participating in RSVP can help seniors build new relationships and potentially live longer, said Gebhart.
“Statistically, volunteering helps you live longer, and I’ve had seniors credit this program with saving their lives” she said. “These folks have a lifetime of experience to share with us and this helps them know they’re important and needed.”
Leonard Perlmutter, 55, volunteers at CPAC’s home office doing proofreading, working on insurance projects and “mapping” — a process volunteer organizations go through to see if they are eligible for grants.
The Cherry Hill resident says he enjoys helping the community, and that his participation in RSVP has helped to re-energize his life.
“It’s lonely when you’re the only person not working, and it’s hard when you don’t have structure,” he said. “This gets me out of bed and helps me start the day up.”
Next month will mark Charlie Russell’s 10-year anniversary at South Jersey Legal Services, which provides quality legal representation and advocacy to low-income individuals.
“My unit deals with seniors who truly have no place else to go for legal help,” he said. “Some of these people make only $814 per month.”
The interpersonal experience the Marlton resident accrued throughout his professional career and his ability to relate to clients have helped him thrive at organization.
“As a senior, they appreciate the fact that there’s someone to talk to who will take the time to fully understand their needs,” he said. “It’s rewarding to work with them, to see them get out of the hole they’re in and hear how much they appreciate it.”
And Russell appreciates the return.
“I can sincerely say that I’m getting a lot more out of this program and what I do than I’m giving,” he said. “Personally, it makes me feel so much better to be able to get around and do things for as old as I am. It’s a nice feeling, and I hope to be doing this for a long time.”
For more information on RSVP or to volunteer, contact Beth Gebhart, 856-663-4773, ext. 217, or egebhart@cpachvi.org.
The 82-year-old volunteers at South Jersey Legal Services as part of Camden County’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVP), which connects those 55 and older with meaningful service opportunities that match their skills and availability. Russell called the RSVP “the best thing that could have possibly happened.”
“When my wife passed 11 years ago, I was down in the dumps and feeling sorry for myself,” he said. “I wanted to be out of the house volunteering and working with people. I learned about this opportunity, and it was exactly what I was looking for.”
The Community Planning and Advocacy Council (CPAC) of Camden County, which holds the grant for RSVP, is an independent nonprofit that coordinates the county’s human services programs, said Beth Gebhart, volunteer coordinator for RSVP.
“We have seniors in the American Red Cross working on blood drives, working one-on-one with children in mentoring programs and volunteering in hospitals,” she said. “We have collaborative relationships with more than 35 nonprofits in the area. The opportunities really run the gamut.”
The program also works in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Senior Citizens United Community Services and CASA of Camden County — Court Appointed Special Advocates for children — and more, Gebhart added.
The federally funded RSVP was created in 1971 under SeniorCorps, a branch of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
To start, senior volunteers sit down with RSVP personnel to discuss their interests and background.
“The nice thing about this is that I’m able to know what the agency’s needs are and talk to someone to find out where they might be the best fit,” said Gebhart. “A lot of people have experience with something that’s motivated them to come in.”
For example, she said, a volunteer recently asked to be partnered with hospice because it had been so helpful when he lost both his wife and mother-in-law.
The organizations are flexible with a senior’s schedule and volunteers can participate in more than one program if they wish, she added.
Participating in RSVP can help seniors build new relationships and potentially live longer, said Gebhart.
“Statistically, volunteering helps you live longer, and I’ve had seniors credit this program with saving their lives” she said. “These folks have a lifetime of experience to share with us and this helps them know they’re important and needed.”
Leonard Perlmutter, 55, volunteers at CPAC’s home office doing proofreading, working on insurance projects and “mapping” — a process volunteer organizations go through to see if they are eligible for grants.
The Cherry Hill resident says he enjoys helping the community, and that his participation in RSVP has helped to re-energize his life.
“It’s lonely when you’re the only person not working, and it’s hard when you don’t have structure,” he said. “This gets me out of bed and helps me start the day up.”
Next month will mark Charlie Russell’s 10-year anniversary at South Jersey Legal Services, which provides quality legal representation and advocacy to low-income individuals.
“My unit deals with seniors who truly have no place else to go for legal help,” he said. “Some of these people make only $814 per month.”
The interpersonal experience the Marlton resident accrued throughout his professional career and his ability to relate to clients have helped him thrive at organization.
“As a senior, they appreciate the fact that there’s someone to talk to who will take the time to fully understand their needs,” he said. “It’s rewarding to work with them, to see them get out of the hole they’re in and hear how much they appreciate it.”
And Russell appreciates the return.
“I can sincerely say that I’m getting a lot more out of this program and what I do than I’m giving,” he said. “Personally, it makes me feel so much better to be able to get around and do things for as old as I am. It’s a nice feeling, and I hope to be doing this for a long time.”
For more information on RSVP or to volunteer, contact Beth Gebhart, 856-663-4773, ext. 217, or egebhart@cpachvi.org.
