About Us
OUR SPONSOR
Heartland RSVP is sponsored locally by Senior Adult Services, Inc. (a local non-profit agency). SASI's sponsorship provides employment structure for RSVP staff, program supervision, program funding, and accounting oversight.
RSVP OFFICE
We are very fortunate to be housed in the Bank Midwest Building on the corner of the Kirksville Square at North Elson Street and Harrison Street in Kirksville. This building is handicapped accessible and has meeting space available to host volunteer training's.
STAFF
Heartland RSVP is staffed with two full-time positions: Program Director and Office Manager. Pat Selby has served as Program Manager since January of 1998. Hannah Anderson serves as Office Manager. Both volunteer in the community.
FUNDING
Since 1973, Heartland RSVP has been partially funded by a federal grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Continuation of the federal CNCS grant from year to year has always been contingent upon grant compliance. Grant funding is received through United Way of Adair County/NEMO as a Partner Agency and contingent upon funding decisions yearly. Additional support is received from donors and grants which support specific projects such as the Medicare Counseling and Tax Counseling for the Elderly.
SERVICE
The number of volunteer hours is a testament to RSVP volunteer's generosity. There are many ways to look at statistics-consider this: RSVP provided the equivalent of 24 full-time workers-free of charge- who worked for the betterment of our community. That generous donation was a big boost to the "people make the difference", we hear so much about from our community leaders.
*SIGNATURE PROJECTS*
Currently Heartland RSVP has 3 Signature Projects.
HISTORY
Nationally, RSVP is an outgrowth of efforts by private groups, gerontologists, and government agencies over the past decades to address the needs of retired persons in America. The White House Conference on Aging in 1961 called attention to the continuing need of older people for useful activity. One of the outcomes of the Conference was the passage of the Older Americans Act of 1965, which was amended in 1969, creating RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program).
RSVP launched eleven projects in the summer of 1971 and expanded nationally to a total of 590 RSVP projects by June 30, 1973. In 1973, Adair County RSVP began operations under the leadership of Freda May. Senior Adult Services, Inc. became the sponsoring agency for Adair County RSVP in 1989. The RSVP program was housed in rented space at Village 76. Heartland RSVP was well received by the community and membership and has grown to to 250+ volunteers.
In 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) came into being when the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 was signed. This new Act lowered the age for participation in RSVP from 60 to 55, eliminated a requirement that volunteers no longer be in the work force and gave CNCS oversight responsibility for the RSVP programs.
Freda May retired in 1998, ending an amazing 25 year career and the position of Heartland (Adair Co) RSVP Program Director was filled by Pat Selby, who had served as Assistant Director since 1992.
In 1994 Adair County RSVP added communities in Macon. Schuyler, and Knox counties to it's existing program which serves volunteers and community organizations in Adair County. The name of the program was changed at this time to Heartland RSVP.
Currently RSVP includes 741 local projects with nearly 500,000 RSVP volunteers contributing over 78 million hours of service to their communities through a network of 61,500 local nonprofit and community-based organizations. RSVP volunteers continue to make a difference in the lives of those they serve and their communities, while enriching their own lives through service.
Heartland RSVP is sponsored locally by Senior Adult Services, Inc. (a local non-profit agency). SASI's sponsorship provides employment structure for RSVP staff, program supervision, program funding, and accounting oversight.
RSVP OFFICE
We are very fortunate to be housed in the Bank Midwest Building on the corner of the Kirksville Square at North Elson Street and Harrison Street in Kirksville. This building is handicapped accessible and has meeting space available to host volunteer training's.
STAFF
Heartland RSVP is staffed with two full-time positions: Program Director and Office Manager. Pat Selby has served as Program Manager since January of 1998. Hannah Anderson serves as Office Manager. Both volunteer in the community.
FUNDING
Since 1973, Heartland RSVP has been partially funded by a federal grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Continuation of the federal CNCS grant from year to year has always been contingent upon grant compliance. Grant funding is received through United Way of Adair County/NEMO as a Partner Agency and contingent upon funding decisions yearly. Additional support is received from donors and grants which support specific projects such as the Medicare Counseling and Tax Counseling for the Elderly.
SERVICE
The number of volunteer hours is a testament to RSVP volunteer's generosity. There are many ways to look at statistics-consider this: RSVP provided the equivalent of 24 full-time workers-free of charge- who worked for the betterment of our community. That generous donation was a big boost to the "people make the difference", we hear so much about from our community leaders.
*SIGNATURE PROJECTS*
Currently Heartland RSVP has 3 Signature Projects.
- Medicare/Benefits Counseling Project - Volunteers assist area seniors/disabled and/or low income residents with their Medicare and Medicaid questions, problems, annual Part D enrollments, and applications to benefit programs that they qualified for. See flyer with benefit guidelines.
- Missouri Property Tax Credit Counseling Project - Volunteers assist those age 55 and over to file the Missouri Property Tax Credit with the Missouri Dept of Revenue each year to receive all or a portion of their paid real estate taxes or rent back.
- Kirksville Community Walking 101 - Nov thru March, between 9:30 and noon, Mon thru Fri, seniors age 55 and over, are encouraged to walk at our partner's facility, The Crossing Church. April thru Oct, the days are changed to M-W-F. All levels of walkers can be found each day walking to the energized music provided. Volunteers facilitate each day provide this service to area seniors.
HISTORY
Nationally, RSVP is an outgrowth of efforts by private groups, gerontologists, and government agencies over the past decades to address the needs of retired persons in America. The White House Conference on Aging in 1961 called attention to the continuing need of older people for useful activity. One of the outcomes of the Conference was the passage of the Older Americans Act of 1965, which was amended in 1969, creating RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program).
RSVP launched eleven projects in the summer of 1971 and expanded nationally to a total of 590 RSVP projects by June 30, 1973. In 1973, Adair County RSVP began operations under the leadership of Freda May. Senior Adult Services, Inc. became the sponsoring agency for Adair County RSVP in 1989. The RSVP program was housed in rented space at Village 76. Heartland RSVP was well received by the community and membership and has grown to to 250+ volunteers.
In 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) came into being when the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 was signed. This new Act lowered the age for participation in RSVP from 60 to 55, eliminated a requirement that volunteers no longer be in the work force and gave CNCS oversight responsibility for the RSVP programs.
Freda May retired in 1998, ending an amazing 25 year career and the position of Heartland (Adair Co) RSVP Program Director was filled by Pat Selby, who had served as Assistant Director since 1992.
In 1994 Adair County RSVP added communities in Macon. Schuyler, and Knox counties to it's existing program which serves volunteers and community organizations in Adair County. The name of the program was changed at this time to Heartland RSVP.
Currently RSVP includes 741 local projects with nearly 500,000 RSVP volunteers contributing over 78 million hours of service to their communities through a network of 61,500 local nonprofit and community-based organizations. RSVP volunteers continue to make a difference in the lives of those they serve and their communities, while enriching their own lives through service.
