Lebanon — The RSVP Volunteer Center, which works with adults ages 55 and older to meet community needs in Grafton and Sullivan counties, is looking for volunteers for its four programs, which cover everything from exercise to fixing things around the house.

Teresa M. Volta, the center’s program director, said that with such a large coverage area, the center is always in need of additional volunteers.

“The more volunteers in each location with different skills, the better,” she said.

The RSVP Volunteer Center is part of a national program that was initially developed in the 1970s to engage older adults after retirement. Over time, however, it has morphed from being a program meant to keep older adults busy to being a force for community good.

“The focus has been more on what can volunteers do for the community, rather than how can we help volunteers,” Volta said.

RSVP stands for Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, but Volta said that today many of the volunteers aren’t retired, and others are loath to consider themselves seniors, so the program has adopted the acronym. Because RSVP is a federally-funded program, its volunteers must engage in evidence-based programs that improve outcomes. In the Upper Valley, the RSVP Volunteer Center is sponsored by the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, so programs focus on the council’s mission of helping seniors age at home.

The Chore Corps program connects volunteers with older adults who need help completing small projects around their homes. This might mean fixing a leaky tap, or putting up smoke detectors. During the summer months, it often means installing air conditioners.

“Air conditioners aren’t just a luxury for some folks,” Volta said. For seniors with health conditions like asthma, heart conditions and MS, heat waves can be deadly, so having an air conditioning unit installed ahead of time can be essential.

“At the last minute, we always get calls, so we’re reminding people to think ahead,” Volta said.

The volunteer center doesn’t have a budget for providing materials for projects, but this year the organization is accepting donations of new and gently-used air conditioners to help homeowners who otherwise would not be able to afford a unit.

In addition to the Chores Corps, the center runs two programs focused on physical health — Bone Builders (in which volunteers teach exercises to build bone density) and A Matter of Balance (in which volunteers teach seniors how to control their falls). The fourth program, Good Morning, provides telephone reassurance and a quick hello to seniors who live at home. For that program, volunteers can simply make a phone call from their own home.

“That’s a really great opportunity for volunteers who don’t get around in the community any more,” Volta said.

Volta emphasized that volunteers are needed in all areas of Grafton and Sullivan counties.

“Our office is in Lebanon, but we go out in the field,” she said.

Recently some of the “old faithful” have retired from volunteering due to their own health concerns and life changes, Volta said. Because of that, the RSVP Volunteer Center is especially in need of new people who are interested in serving their communities.

For more information on volunteering with the center, call 877-711-7787 or email rsvp@gcscc.org.