MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Senior Corps Association salutes thousands of Wisconsin’s elderly volunteers who make a difference in the lives of young and old alike. The salute comes as part of Senior Corps Week, May 16thto May 20th, in national recognition of seniors who serve their communities.
“From Lake Superior to the Illinois Border thousands of Wisconsin Senior Corps volunteers are making a huge positive impact on their communities,” said Margie Zutter, WISCA President. “We literally have an army of volunteers working hard to make Wisconsin better.”
Serving through three Senior Corps programs, that “army” contributed over 1,000,000 volunteer hours to their communities in 2015.
Senior Companion programs help homebound frail elderly to remain in their homes. This service offered at no charge allows seniors to live with dignity in their own homes and saves millions of taxpayer dollars by delaying or eliminating the need for nursing home care. The Social Development Commission’s (SDC) Senior Companion program has operated for more than 40 years. In 2015, SDC’s 85 companions provided over 11,000 four-hour weekly visits to 348 seniors.
WISCA’s Foster Grandparents programs provide one-on-one attention to children most at risk to fail in 181 Wisconsin schools, shelters, correctional facilities, and early childhood centers. These volunteers help to improve reading and math skills, school readiness, and the well-being of children.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) connects volunteers ages 55 and older with service opportunities that promote change and meet critical needs in their communities. Over 7,000 RSVP volunteers help with food pantries, meals on wheels, disaster relief and other civic projects.
Wisconsin’s Senior Corps volunteers contributed 1,249,329 hours in 2015. At an estimated value of $23.56 per volunteer hour for 2015, those hours amounted to $29,434,191 worth of services to their communities.
The real value of Wisconsin’s Senior Corps volunteers can’t be gauged in dollars and cents according to India McCanse, State Director for the Corporation for National and Community Service, the major funding source for Senior Corps programs, “The impact that Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents and RSVP volunteers make in Wisconsin every day is immeasurable. We’re deeply grateful for their service.”
