Volunteer Opportunities

• National Senior Service Corps
• Foster Grandparent Program (FGP)
• Retired And Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
• Senior Companion Program (SCP)
• Program Availability
• Peace Corps
• SCORE Programs
• AMERICORPS
• VISTA Program

National Senior Service Corps

The National Senior Service Corps -- or SENIOR CORPS -- is funded and administered by the Corporation for National Service, which engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in full or part-time service. Serving through local sponsoring agencies and organizations, the SENIOR CORPS offers older adults the opportunities to make a difference to others and get things done in the community. It includes the following programs:

Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) - provides stipends, transportation and other support services to low-income elders working as part-time volunteers who provide one-on-one assistance to children with special and exceptional needs. They serve children who have disabilities, those who are abused and neglected, and teen parents and their children. Some members care for children who are HIV-positive or addicted to drugs. They also serve as mentors to youth.

Retired And Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) - The program provides a variety of opportunities for retired persons aged 60 or older to participate more fully in the life of their community through significant volunteer service. Retired or semi-retired persons serve in a variety of agencies, organizations, and institutions designated as volunteer stations. These include courts, schools, libraries, day care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, Boy and Girl Scout offices, economic development agencies, and other community service centers. RSVP volunteers serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for such expenses as transportation.

Senior Companion Program (SCP) - The Senior Companion Program (SCP) offers part-time stipended volunteer community service opportunities for low-income persons age 60 and over. The volunteers work in community service activities serving adults with physical, mental or emotional impairments. They assist primarily homebound frail elderly persons and others with special needs. Services may include short-term acute care assistance, non-medical personal care and social/recreational activities. Volunteers receive a modest stipend and other benefits.

Program Availability

Not every county in NJ offers opportunities to serve in FGP, RSVP or SCP programs. To find out if any of these programs are available in your area, please contact your Area Agency on Aging or SENIOR CORP at 1-800-424-8867 or 202-606-5000, www.cns.gov.

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Peace Corps

There is no upper age limit for service with the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps actively recruits older persons to serve as senior volunteers. Persons accepted as volunteers agree to spend at least two years assisting people of developing countries with meeting their basic needs for food, health care, shelter, education, and economic development. Before service there is a training period of 8 to 16 weeks, depending on the country and the nature of assignment. The training includes intensive language instruction, in-depth orientation on the culture and traditions of the assigned country, and additional training in technical skills as needed.

Volunteers receive a monthly living allowance, health services, and vacation. In addition, there is a readjustment allowance set aside by the Peace Corps, payable upon completion of service. A life insurance policy is optional, but all volunteers are covered by the Federal Employees Compensation Act for disabilities incurred in training and during service. By itself, service with the Peace Corps will not affect a volunteer's Social Security benefits, or federal civil service/military pension. Service as a volunteer is counted as time in service for the purpose of accruing years employed by the federal government. To have time spent as a volunteer count toward federal retirement, a volunteer must be employed with the federal government for at least one year following service with the Peace Corps.

Information - Call the Peace Corps Recruiting Office, toll-free, at 1-800-424-8580, or contact Peace Corps, 201 N. Varick St., Suite 1025, New York, NY 10014, telephone 212-352-5440, fax 212-352-5441, or e-mail nyinfo@peacecorps.gov.

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SCORE Programs

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), is a volunteer program of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Through SCORE, seasoned volunteer business executives with management and technical expertise are connected with owners/managers of small businesses needing management counseling.

SCORE volunteers work in their home communities or nearby. They provide their services without charge but are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. Almost any small independent business, not dominant in its field can apply to SCORE. The approach is completely confidential, person-to-person, and at no cost to the small business. A business does not have to have a SBA loan to qualify nor even to be in operation yet. Pre-business consulting is an important part of these services. SCORE may be found at a number of locations around NJ. The offices are staffed by volunteers; most are operational by appointment only, usually for around two hours one day a week. To find out the location of the office nearest you, and the day(s) and hours of operation, contact the SCORE office in either Newark or Camden. The addresses of these offices are as follows:

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AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps (the domestic Peace Corps) is the national service program that provides people of all ages and backgrounds with education awards in exchange for a year or two of community service. To find out more about AmeriCorps and other national service programs, please contact the New Jersey Commission on National & Community Service, New Jersey Department of State, Office of Community Services, 609-633-9627.

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Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is a volunteer program for persons 18 years of age or older to work with low-income persons to assist them in improving the conditions of their lives. VISTA volunteers are assigned to local sponsors who may be state or local public agencies, or private non-profit organizations. They live and work among the poor, sharing their skills and experience in areas such as: drug abuse, literacy, employment training, food distribution, shelter for the homeless, neighborhood revitalization, domestic violence, health outreach and education, and senior nutrition.

For more information on the VISTA program, contact the NJ Corporation for National Service, 44 South Clinton Ave., Suite 312, Trenton, NJ 08609, telephone 609-989-2243.

For information on benefits, programs and services provided to older persons by the State of New Jersey, please consult our companion publication, STATEWIDE BENEFITS FOR OLDER PERSONS

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