FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM
Foster Grandparents are volunteers age 55 and over who serve as role models, mentors, and friends to children with exceptional needs. Foster Grandparents serve from 15 to 40 hours per week in locations including schools, hospitals, juvenile correctional institutions, daycare facilities or Head Start centers. Volunteers who meet certain income guidelines also receive a small stipend.
Boston and Eastern Middlesex FGP (Action for Boston Community Development)
http://bostonabcd.org/foster-grandparents.aspx
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 150
Total 2019 Service Hours: 148,127
Service Opportunities: ABCD/Foster Grandparent Program provides older adults 55+ wishing to connect the generations and continue to contribute to their community with the opportunity to enrich the lives of children 0-19 years with special or exceptional needs by providing extra care and attention in order to improve their physical, mental, emotional and social development so they may grow to reach their maximum potential.
Fall River FGP (Citizens for Citizens, Inc)
http://cfcinc.org/programs/senior-programs/foster-grandparent-program/
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 54
Total 2019 Service Hours: 56,573
Service Opportunities: Volunteers have the opportunity to work in Schools, Day Cares and Head Start Programs. In the Fall River, Somerset and Taunton area
FGP of Greater Lawrence/Haverhill (Merrimack Valley Community Service Corps, Inc)
http://mymvcsc.org/?page_id=11
FGP (Urban League of Springfield)
http://ulspringfield.org/programs/
New Bedford FGP (Coastline Elderly Services, Inc)
http://coastlineelderly.org/get-involved/foster-grandparent-program/
SCP of Lowell (Community Teamwork, Inc)
http://www.commteam.org/how-we-help/community-volunteering/senior-corps-volunteer-program/
Boston and Eastern Middlesex FGP (Action for Boston Community Development)
http://bostonabcd.org/foster-grandparents.aspx
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 150
Total 2019 Service Hours: 148,127
Service Opportunities: ABCD/Foster Grandparent Program provides older adults 55+ wishing to connect the generations and continue to contribute to their community with the opportunity to enrich the lives of children 0-19 years with special or exceptional needs by providing extra care and attention in order to improve their physical, mental, emotional and social development so they may grow to reach their maximum potential.
Fall River FGP (Citizens for Citizens, Inc)
http://cfcinc.org/programs/senior-programs/foster-grandparent-program/
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 54
Total 2019 Service Hours: 56,573
Service Opportunities: Volunteers have the opportunity to work in Schools, Day Cares and Head Start Programs. In the Fall River, Somerset and Taunton area
FGP of Greater Lawrence/Haverhill (Merrimack Valley Community Service Corps, Inc)
http://mymvcsc.org/?page_id=11
FGP (Urban League of Springfield)
http://ulspringfield.org/programs/
New Bedford FGP (Coastline Elderly Services, Inc)
http://coastlineelderly.org/get-involved/foster-grandparent-program/
SCP of Lowell (Community Teamwork, Inc)
http://www.commteam.org/how-we-help/community-volunteering/senior-corps-volunteer-program/
RSVP VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
RSVP is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over. You can use the skills and talents you’ve learned over the years, or develop new ones while serving in a variety of volunteer activities. RSVP volunteers choose how, where, and how often they want to serve, with commitments ranging from a few hours to 40 hours per week.
[see a map of towns covered by each RSVP office]
Berkshire RSVP (City of Pittsfield)
http://cityofpittsfield.org/city_hall/rsvp/index.php
Boston RSVP (Age Strong Commission)
www.boston.gov/health-and-human-services/volunteer-opportunities-older-people
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 300
Total 2019 Service Hours: 27,488
Service Opportunities:
Provide Companionship-meet with older adults at community centers, senior centers, housing developments. Volunteers are matched one to one with a client and engage them in activity. Goal: to get the client out of the house and actively engaged-socialization.
Provide Respite-serve at partner agencies that provide respite care for caregivers whose loved one were diagnosed with Dementia or Alzheimer's. Volunteers engage clients in daily socialization activities, they also assist with transport by accompanying clients to and from the center on the program van.
Teach ESL: volunteers sit in on Instructor led ESL classes providing assistance to non-English speaking older adults; giving them the opportunity to learn or improve their English language speaking, reading and writing skills.
Teach older adults about insurance options-SHINE program: Volunteers participate in a 6 week certification training on explaining health insurance options and protecting consumer rights; typically, SHINE counselors work an average of 4 hours per week. They work one-on-one with seniors to educate, answer questions, solve problems, and screen for low income health programs. SHINE counselors also attend monthly meetings where they receive ongoing training and support.
Assist Veterans and Military Families: Volunteers serve at area veterans hospitals as well as other community organizations. Some assist with patient transit, mans welcome stations and serve at special events
Provide Transportation: volunteers serve as Bus Buddies. Bus Buddies assist older adults who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the transit system, but are physically able to use it. The volunteer works one-on-one with an older adult during the trip planning process and then accompanies him or her on one or more bus and/or train until the older adult is comfortable riding alone.
Fall River/Taunton RSVP (Citizens for Citizens, Inc)
http://cfcinc.org/programs/senior-programs/retired-senior-volunteer-program/
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 161
Total 2019 Service Hours: 28,513
Service Opportunities: Soup Kitchens, Food pantries, Mentoring Head Start, VITA, Senior Centers, Nursing Homes
Greater Lawrence RSVP (Merrimack Valley Community Service Corps, Inc)
http://mymvcsc.org/?page_id=11
Middlesex County RSVP (Mystic Valley Elder Services, Inc)
http://www.mves.org/join-us/volunteer-opportunities/
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 217
Total 2019 Service Hours: 11,265
Service Opportunities: SHINE Counselor, Money Management Volunteer, Reading Partners, Food Pantry
Norfolk County RSVP (Norfolk County Commissioners' Office)
http://www.norfolkcounty.org/rsvp
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 295
Total 2019 Service Hours: 32,100
Service Opportunities: Friendly Visiting for Isolated Elders, Veterans Support, Food Support, Elementary School Tutoring.
RSVP of Hampshire and Franklin Counties (Hampshire Council of Governments)
www.rsvphf.org
RSVP of Lowell (Community Teamwork, Inc)
http://www.commteam.org/how-we-help/community-volunteering/senior-corps-volunteer-program/
RSVP Volunteers of the North Shore (SeniorCare, Inc)
http://www.seniorcareinc.org/volunteer-18.html
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 375
Total 2019 Service Hours: 40,000+
Service Opportunities:
Meals on Wheels, Medical Transportation Drivers, Money Management Volunteers, Food Pantry, Tax Aide Volunteers, Office Assistance, Knitters, Crafters, Healthy Living Assistants
RSVP of the Pioneer Valley
www.communityaction.us/rsvp
www.facebook.com/RSVPPioneerValley
Data-At-A-Glance
Total Volunteers: 671
Total 2019 Service Hours: 94,000
Service Opportunities:
Aging in Place: Companions, Healthy Bones & Balance Exercise Leaders, Drivers, Activity Leaders, Money Managers; Food Security: Food Pantries, Brown Bag, Food Bank; Capacity Building: Fundraising, Consulting, Volunteer Office Support; Housing: Habitat for Humanity
RSVP of Plymouth County
www.ocesma.org
Total Volunteers: 280
Total 2019 Service Hours: 27, 500
Service Opportunities:
We have a wide range of opportunities that are available and geared toward healthy futures. Some of the opportunities include; Meals on Wheels Drivers, Medical Appointment Drivers, Tutors, Hospice Volunteers, Activity Assistants, Blood Drive Volunteers, Receptionist, Barn Chores, Leader/Side Walker for Horseback Riding Lessons, Letters to Troops, Money Management, Consumer Advocate and Friendly Visitors to name a few!
RSVP Worcester Area Volunteers (Family Services of Central Massachusetts)
http://rsvpworcester.org/
Senior Service Corps (Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands)
http://www.escci.org/
SOAR 55 (Family Access of Newton)
http://www.soar55.org/
SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM
Senior Companions are volunteers age 55 and over who provide assistance and friendship to adults who have difficulty with daily living tasks, such as shopping or paying bills. We help these adults remain independent in their homes instead of having to move to more costly institutional care. Senior Companions give families or professional caregivers much needed time off from their duties, run errands, and often provide friendship for their clients. Senior Companions serve 15 to 40 hours per week helping an average of two to four adult clients live independently in their own homes. Volunteers may qualify to earn a tax-free hourly stipend.
Boston SCP (Age Strong Commission)
www.boston.gov/health-and-human-services/volunteer-opportunities-older-people
Total Volunteers: 60
Total 2019 Service Hours: 67,126
Service Opportunities: Provide Companionship: SCP volunteers engage their clients in meaningful conversation, take them to medical appointments or any activity that will keep their client actively engaged in the community.
Provide Respite: Volunteers attend to loved ones allowing caregivers time to relax and regroup.
SCP of Chicopee (Valley Opportunity Council)
http://valleyopp.com/index.php?page=seniors
SCP of Lowell (Community Teamwork, Inc)
http://www.commteam.org/how-we-help/community-volunteering/senior-corps-volunteer-program/
Worcester Area SCP (Family Services of Central Massachusetts)
http://www.fscm.org/senior-companion/