Friends RSVP provides over 500 volunteers to over 100 non-profit and public organizations to help them serve their clients and meet their missions. RSVP volunteers contribute more than 64,000 hours each year to help meet community needs in Merrimack, Rockingham, Belknap, and Strafford Counties.  In our last fiscal year, RSVP Volunteers served over 12.000 unique clients including shopping trips, rides, home visits and reassurance phone calls to isolated seniors.

RSVP volunteers are engaged in more than 150 different assignments, based upon their own interests, talents and time availability. Some examples of volunteer assignments are listed below.

A new initiative that the RSVP Program is focusing on is our Food Insecurity Project .  Our volunteers work with partnering agencies to support community gardens and gleaning programs during our state's short growing season. Food goes to local pantries. Needy families receive fresh, nutritious food to improve their health without added cost.  RSVP volunteers provide staffing to soup kitchens and emergency meal offerings for needy families in the Friends RSVP service area.  RSVP volunteers provide staffing to food pantries in the collection, packaging, and distribution of food and other needed items to needy families throughout the coverage area of the individual pantries.

Many more opportunities are available, and new ones can be created to meet new volunteer or community needs. If you have a particular interest or skill you'd like to share, we'll find an organization that needs you!

RSVP ALSO RUNS SIGNATURE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING:

Caregivers Program provides door-through-door transportation for medical appointments and basic needs, including staying with them to assist them, isolation-reducing companionship and telephone reassurance. We use screened volunteer drivers, and rides are free of charge to clients. Clients must be age 60+ and be unable to access other services. Volunteers are either matched one-to-one with clients who need companionship as well as rides, or they are part of a medical transportation drivers pool. If you are interesting in being a volunteer caregiver, check out the job description.
 
Bone Builders is a free senior strength training and balance exercise program. It can prevent and reverse osteoporosis and improves muscle strength, balance and bone density, along with helping with energy and general health. Classes are taught by certified volunteer leaders at over 20 locations throughout Merrimack, Rockingham, and Belknap counties: Schedule of Classes.*

*PLEASE NOTE* To ensure the safety of both volunteers and attendees, many in-person Bone Builders classes are currently suspended until further notice. You can access virtual classes HERE!  We hope to expand our public access channel coverage in many cities and towns across New Hampshire! Thank you for your understanding—stay safe!*

If you are interested in being a volunteer Caregiver or want to learn more about Bone Builders session leaders,  check out these job descriptions.

Senior volunteers in the RSVP Program not only help those in need, they gain significant benefits themselves. RSVP volunteers get reconnected in their communities through meaningful activities that renew a sense of purpose, increase physical and mental activity, and promote better health and prolonged independence.  Volunteers can give as much or as little as they wish. Even one or two hours a month is appreciated. You can make a big difference in someone’s life!

For more information or to volunteer in Merrimack and Belknap Counties, please call 1-800-536-1193 ext. 7608. For more information or to volunteer in Rockingham and Strafford Counties, call 1-800-536-1193 ext. 7614. Thank you!

Lead Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

RSVP Program Sponsor

Friends of RSVP

Grant Support Provided By

Samuel P. Hunt Foundation

Bagan Foundation

Barnard Foundation

Government Support Provided by

Merrimack County                                 Rockingham County

RSVP is a Senior Corps Program of the 
Corporation for National and Community Service