Seniors can learn about volunteer opportunities in Crawford County

Area seniors can learn more about volunteer opportunities at a special event on Friday.

RSVP of Crawford, Marion and Morrow Counties, a local nonprofit serving seniors 55 and older, will have a volunteer fair from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bucyrus Public Library, 200 E. Mansfield St.

"It is a retired senior volunteer program," said Erin Miller, the program's coordinator. "We recruit and place seniors 55 and older into volunteer opportunities locally, within the community. ... We have different options across Crawford County and in my other counties."

For example, the organization recruits volunteers for mentoring programs in local school districts, Miller said. It works with the Bucyrus Backpack Program, food pantries and other nonprofits that address food insecurity in the area. It also recruits drivers for the Crawford County Council on Aging's Meals on Wheels program.

Sometimes, people who already are serving as volunteers sign up for the program because it offers supplemental accident and liability insurance, she said. It pays mileage for volunteers who are driving their own cars, such as people delivering for Meals on Wheels.

"There's just little perks," Miller said. "We do a once-a-year recognition, a catered lunch. We bring everybody in and thank them for the work that they've done and get everybody together and just celebrate all of their hard work over the past year."

Primarily, though, it gives seniors an opportunity to be productive.

"It keeps them out, it keeps them moving, it keeps them socialized instead of sitting at home and feeling like they're no good to anybody," Miller said. "There's health benefits all the way around — physically and mentally — to keeping older adults involved and moving."

RSVP is a national program, a division of AmeriCorps, she said. It's partially federally funded and also uses local grant money.

The volunteer fair will give seniors a chance to "see what is available, things that they could do to keep themselves busy, and get plugged in that way," she said.

The event also will include door prizes and refreshments.

"Just come in and see some new faces and see what you can do to give back," Miller said.

ggoble@nncogannett.com

419-521-7263

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Crawford County seniors can learn about RSVP volunteer opportunities