Room #221
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 549-8147
RSVP is a national program, sponsored locally by the Etowah County Commission. We have approximately 200 active volunteers who provide all kinds of community services for the citizens of Etowah and Cherokee Counties. Opportunities range from working with young children to working with other seniors, homeland security issues to free taxpayer assistance, working in thrift stores and food pantries to clerical and office help.
Volunteer opportunities also exist for those who prefer not to leave their homes: making telephone calls to the homebound; providing reminders by phone; or knitting or crocheting items for babies or hospice patients. Whatever your interests and skills are, we have a job for you where you will be needed, appreciated, and – most importantly – making a difference!
RSVP is a non-profit agency and is federally funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the state of Alabama, and at the local level by the Etowah County Commission.
MISSION STATEMENT: RSVP involves senior citizens age 55 and over in volunteer services within their own communities that match their personal interests, talents, and skills gained from a lifetime of experiences. This improves their quality of life while helping the community and those they serve.
If you would like to know more about the benefits of becoming a volunteer with RSVP, contact Traci Pondick.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT RSVP WORKSTATIONS
Etowah County
AARP Chapter #3337
These volunteers have monthly meetings and perform different community
service projects at regular intervals.
Alabama Cooperative Extension Service
Volunteers with this organization work with young people judging 4-H projects,
and assisting with community service projects and educational programs or with clerical help in the office.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Alabama
Besides mentoring a child, Big Brothers Big Sisters also need volunteers to design
and update a website, helping with events by delivering supplies, setting up and
taking down event material, and coordinating and supervising field trips for the
children.
Central-Carver Foundation
The Central-Carver Foundation runs a museum in the Carver Community Center
that is committed to preserving the history of Central and Carver schools, and the
people who attended these schools. Volunteers act as docents at the museum.
City of Gadsden
Community Center in Gadsden such as Senior Wellness Center, Carver or Downtown Civic Center.
Council on Aging
Volunteers with the Council on Aging may be trained and certified to offer
counseling & guidance about the financial opportunities and pitfalls faced by
senior citizens, the State Health insurance Program (SHIP) and Medicare
Supplements.
Etowah Baptist Mission Center, & Salvation Army
Each of these organizations operates a thrift store, offer free meals to the
indigent and financial assistance to help pay rent, utilities or for medicine. They
need volunteers to take in and sort merchandise and donated items to be made
available to their clients, interview new clients, or help prepare a meal.
Etowah County Courthouse Information Desk
We need volunteers in the morning or afternoon hours to sit at the information
desk in the lobby of the Etowah County Courthouse and give assistance to visitors
who need directions to a particular department.
Etowah County Pregnancy Testing Center
The Pregnancy Testing Center will train volunteers to perform pregnancy testing,
counsel young ladies who are pregnant, and refer clients to agencies for prenatal
care, housing, or adoption services.
Etowah Free Community Clinic
Volunteers help perform clerical and office support, answer & make telephone
calls, count medicines in medicine room, and scheduling appointments
for patients.
Etowah Historical Society
Volunteers are needed at the Historical Society to act as guides, showing and
explaining displays and their historical significance; and also, to help with
electronically scanning and organizing documents to help preserve these pieces of
history.
Gadsden Public Library
The library needs volunteers to reshelve books, work in the bookstore, helping
with children’s or adult’s programs, or scanning old pictures and documents into
the computer.
Gadsden Quilters Guild
Members of the Quilters Guild learn how to quilt, or teach the art of quilting.
Some quilts are made to be donated and the Guild also has quilting shows.
Gadsden Regional Medical Center & Riverview Regional Medical Center
Volunteers at these two hospitals man the information desks in the lobby and on
different floors to assist visitors seeking information by phone or in person; they
may deliver mail, magazines or newspapers to patients or clients in the waiting
room.
Greater Gadsden Area Tourism
Looking for help at the Downtown Civic Center with mail-out.
Habitat for Humanity
Volunteers assist in public relations, announcements, and help with mail outs.
Head Start
Head Start needs volunteers to monitor on site visitors, providing them with
name tags and retrieving name tags when visitors leave, being sure visitors sign in
and out. Volunteers may also be asked to do some simple sewing repairs if
possible or tutor or mentor a child.
Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center
As a non-profit agency with limited funds for staff — volunteers here are a
necessity in helping with receptionist and clerical duties, fundraising efforts and
special events. Volunteers can also help socialize animals.
Manna
Volunteers deliver prepared meals to the elderly &
homebound.
Reading Buddies
Volunteers are needed in local elementary schools to listen to a student read and
gently instruct them — thus encouraging better reading skills and comprehension.
RSVP Community Service
This is a catch-all category for any type of volunteer work not done through one of your partner
organizations. You may tutor children, sit with an elderly person, go shopping and
pay bills for someone who is homebound, bake a cake for a sick person, do minor
home repairs or cleaning for a neighbor in need it’s all VOLUNTEERING!
Senior Nutrition Centers
Volunteers at Senior Nutrition Centers help with meals, setting the tables,
delivering meals to the homebound, cleaning up after a meal, programs and
presentations. This is a wonderful opportunity to socialize and get to know
people.
Tax Counseling Program
If you’re good with numbers or computers or both, this is for you! This program offers free
tax preparation services to low income or elderly taxpayers at six sites across
Etowah and Cherokee Counties.
United Way
United Way uses volunteers for special events and mail outs.
Cherokee County Health and Rehab Center
Volunteers help with activities such as bingo, entertainment, beauty salon
or in other areas needed within the Center.
Cherokee Village
Volunteers help with activities such as bingo, entertainment, beauty salon
or in other areas needed within the Center.
Extended Family
Extended Family is a support group for people who have a loved one incarcerated.
Volunteers are needed to help with a children’s program at schools, help with
fund raising, knitting or crocheting ‘comfort covers’ for children who have to
travel to visit a family member and clerical duties in the office.
H.D. Buttram Senior Nutrition Center
Volunteers help with lunch every day, deliver meals to homebound meals to
homebound people, and also help prepare a program or entertain.
