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Snapshots of RSVP
"We hear so many stories from the senior citizens after these storms," said Donna Phillips, director of the Southwest RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). "Some of them were as many as three weeks without electricity. There was the lack of communication. They didn't know how to find out where to get food, water or ice." This prompted the Southwest RSVP, which covers Clarke, Choctaw, Dallas, Marengo, Washington and Wilcox counties, in 2006 to do a survey among its volunteers to determine their disaster preparedness. The survey asked questions such as: • Do you have a disaster plan/kit in place for you and your family? • Are you or anyone is your home hearing or visually impaired?
• Do you own a battery operated weather band radio? Armed with this information, Mrs. Phillips and staff members began the process of applying for grant money to put together disaster kits for volunteers. These kits each contained the battery operated radios, batteries, strobe light attachment for those who were hearing impaired and literature with information on what to do in an emergency. In addition, the organization received such a large response to the original questionnaire, they also put together a mini first aid kit with disaster preparedness information. "Each quarter we do a training for our seniors so we incorporated the disaster training as one of the training sessions," said Mrs. Phillips. "We wanted everybody to benefit." RSVP is for all seniors The radio kits is only one of the many projects of the seniors program. The more than 200 senior citizen volunteers from six counties are involved in many aspects within the community. Mrs. Phillips stated not all of the seniors volunteer on a continuing basis, but prefer to work on one-time projects.
Tutoring at schools; helping to put together the first aid and disaster kits; providing baked goods for incoming coaches and teams at the Dixie baseball tournament; serving and providing baked goods and other refreshments for the annual economic development suppliers conference; volunteer at the conference; volunteer at the chamber of commerce; volunteering at the nursing home by visiting, playing games and working in the beauty shop; volunteering at hospitals, the Salvation Army, senior center and libraries. Another resource the RSVP in Thomasville is proud of is its cancer resource room. In collaboration with the American Cancer Society in Mobile the room has supplies for cancer victims of all ages, such as prosthesis, bras and wigs. A local beautician volunteered to wash and style the wigs. The RSVP volunteers also make turbans and pillows for breast cancer patients. The also make the therapeutic rice bags, crocheted and quilted lap robes for nursing homes and assisted living facilities and body bibs.
"We have a tent every year at the Relay for Life event and provide refreshments for 50 to 60 cancer survivors," Mrs. Phillips said. An exciting new project in the works for 2008 is to do things for the soldiers overseas. A survey will be done to determine if this is a project the community wants to get involved with. "Not every county has the same projects," she said. "Dallas County has a recycling project with 10 to 12 volunteers in their 80s and 90s. We would like to do it here in Clarke County too." "One thing we're really proud of is our telephone reassurance program," Mrs. Phillips said. "The volunteers have a list of people (supplied by Southern Care Hospice). They keep contact with these individuals on a daily basis."
If you'd like to volunteer or have a talent that could help touch hearts and lives of area residents, call 334-637-1143 or visit the RSVP in the Thomasville Senior Citizen Nutrition Building on Adams Avenue in Thomasville. Site manager Debbie McClure or director Donna Phillips will be more than happy to help you find a way to make a real difference.
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