By JASON BURGESS
Senior volunteers donated nearly 8,000 hours to enrich the learning environment of students in the Alpine School District during the 1998-99 school year.
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), co-sponsored by the school district and Mountainland Association of Governments, allows older citizens to help students of all ages with a variety of tasks according to their own time schedule and level of commitment.
Sharon Smith oversees the program and said that 88 volunteers, working in 26 schools, donated a total of 7,898 hours. Volunteers help with class projects, field trips, activities, shop projects, art programs, and other academic subjects such as math and science.
Some of the RSVP volunteers are retired school teachers who help teaching. Another group of seniors carry the title “reading grandmas” for their one-on-one help in developing student reading skills.
“There’s a place for everyone regardless of background or interest. All you have to have is a love of children and a little time and you’re in,” Smith said.
Michael Robinson from the Alpine School District said the program has been active for 20 years and each year the program expands. Five years ago RSVP only had 20 volunteers, this year 88 seniors participated, he said.
Principles in the Alpine District call for volunteers and then seniors are sent to schools close to their homes. Recruiting help is not a problem for us, Robinson said.
Robinson said everything is done on a volunteer basis, some serve a couple hours, others volunteer everyday.
Robinson figured seniors gave equivalent to $80,000 in service this last school year. But Robinson said a price can’t be put on service.
“You can’t measure it with money . . . to help a first grader learn to read is priceless.”
“No one can estimate the good that these people do,” said Steven Baugh, Alpine Superintendent. “Their contribution to individual students can sometimes spell the difference between success and failure.”
The RSVP program helps students of all ages including high school. However, the majority of the service is preformed in elementary class rooms. Senior volunteers are not paid for their efforts, but they receive on-site insurance and a free school lunch when they are at the schools. For further information regarding RSVP, contact Sharon Smith at 785-6079.
