RSVP keeps seniors busy

MANATEE — Sarah Noie has been a volunteer ballroom dance instructor for the YMCA and area mobile home parks; a tour guide for Renaissance on 9th, a thrift shop worker for Trinity United Methodist Church; and a volunteer at Blake Medical Center.

The Bradenton resident has found ways to give back to an assortment of nonprofits and organizations since 1987 through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, known by its acronym RSVP.

She is one of 700 RSVP volunteers from Manatee and Sarasota counties.

When Noie retired to this area from Columbus, Ohio., she quickly began developing a diverse group of friends from all her volunteer work. It was a circle of new friends that she otherwise might not have known.

Recently, RSVP opened its first office in Manatee County to help better coordinate requests for volunteers from nonprofits, faith-based groups and public organizations.

Allison Parker, RSVP manager, said one of her first tasks is to recruit team members for Make a Difference Day, set for Oct. 24.

The national day of service includes more than 50 projects in the two-county area. Among the projects in Manatee County are landscaping and painting for Habitat for Humanity in Palmetto, trail and coastal cleanup at DeSoto National Memorial, assisting with an open house at Southeastern Guide Dogs, and serving as a silent auction assistant for Just for Girls.

“We are looking to grow our numbers,” Parker said, adding that nonprofits and others approach RSVP daily with requests for volunteers. Recently, RSVP has received requests for a museum docent, phone receptionist and hospital volunteer.

RSVP volunteers can be anyone 55 and older. There is a particular emphasis on trying to recruit Baby Boomers, the first wave of whom are now starting to enter retirement.

“A typical volunteer is someone who is looking to get out of the house, to socialize. We have teachers, doctors, business professionals, stay-at-home moms, a plethora of backgrounds and ethnicities,” Parker said.

RSVP tries to match volunteers with work that fits their backgrounds and interests. “The volunteer work can be very advanced or very simple,” Parker said.

RSVP falls under the umbrella of the Senior Friendship Center in Sarasota.

The Manatee office of RSVP is at 10311 Malachite Drive, Lakewood Ranch, in the American Red Cross building.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, call (941) 751-6430 or visit www.friendshipvolunteer.com.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee editor, can be contacted at 748-0411, ext. 7021.