HandsOn Central California | Retired & Senior Volunteer Program

R.S.V.P. (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) is a National Service program designed to recruit skilled, experienced, active adults ages 55 and older for volunteer activities that work towards meeting the needs of their communities. The R.S.V.P. helps connect Seniors to rich volunteer opportunities based on their talents, skills, and experiences. Some of the various activies that R.S.V.P members do to help their community include:

Build low income housing
Provide food to the needy and isolated seniors
Help families in need of clothing and goods
Provide companionship to seniors
Support veteran services
Mentor and tutor the youth
Provide support to local city government/ act as ambassadors to our region/ support CHP and local police departments

RSVP Impact Areas

Senior Nutrition and Food Security
Companionship for isolated seniors
Veterans Support
Preschool -3rd Grade Tutoring and Mentoring
Accessing individuals to health care services
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Supporting Animal Shelters
Police and Highway Patrol Support

RSVP Volunteer Requirements

Be 55 years old or older
Fill out a volunteer application
Have time to commit to volunteering
Agree to supervision and training
Understand their is no monetary compensation
Willingness to share their lifetime of wisdom and professional skills

Why should you volunteer?

It helps bridge the generation gap.
It helps change the way people think about older adults.
It is good for mental health.
It helps prevent senior isolation and depression.
It promotes healthy physical activity.
You can be an activist for social change and social justice.
You can meet new people and make new friends.
You can learn new skills.
You will feel good for supporting those in need in your community.

Benefits to Volunteering

Supplemental insurance while traveling to your assignment and while on the job
Access to rewarding volunteer opportunities
Connect with a network of like-minded individuals
Mileage reimbursement for any errands run for the organization
Recognition opportunities
Newsletters
Membership in one of the largest Senior volunteer programs in the United States - Senior Corps RSVP
An article on the benefits of volunteering - and how you can get started written by the National Council for Aging Care. Click here to read the article.

RSVP Overview Video

If you are 55 years of age or older and are interested in volunteering, feel free to fill out the R.S.V.P. application, email us, or call us!
Senior Corps RSVP Volunteer Satisfaction Survey

Forma en Español

Phone: (559) 237-3101

Email: rsvp@handsoncentralcal.org

Meet Clifford and Madeline Gartin RSVP Volunteers

Madeline and Clifford Gartin have been happily married for 63 years. They have a long history of service to their community. This remarkable couple has over 5000 hours of documented volunteer service each, that’s over 10,000 hours of volunteer service together! This achievement was honored by HandsOn Central California who presented them with Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards, and Mayor Lee Brand honored them with a proclamation declaring November 8th Gartin Day in the City of Fresno.

Madeline Gartin is currently volunteering at Fresno City Hall where she gives tours, directs residents to the departments they are looking for, and helps constituents find their city council representatives. In the past Madeline has volunteered with the Fresno CHP and as a docent with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

Clifford Gartin is an army veteran currently volunteering at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport and the Fresno Veterans Home. Clifford is part of a group of RSVP Volunteers that runs the information booth at the Airport. They greet visitors to our region and share information and history about the area, and help direct travelers to various areas and needs in the airport. Our airport ambassadors help our airport run more smoothly and put a friendly experienced face to what is available to do in our region. At the Fresno Veterans Home Clifford provides companionship and encouragement to resident veterans in the home. Clifford spent 20 years volunteering with the State of California General Machinist Joint Apprenticeship Division. Clifford was part of a group that help set the standards for machinist apprenticeships in California. Clifford volunteered as a Deputy Commissioner of Marriages for Fresno County where he performed 1273 marriage ceremonies. Clifford was named the RSVP Volunteer of the Year in 2015 at the Hands Across the Valley Awards.

Please wait...

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

First Name

Last Name

Date of Birth

AmeriCorps Seniors programs are federal National Service programs are for volunteers 55 years of age or older.

Section

Home Address

Home City

Home State

Home Zip Code

Home County

Preferred Method of Communication

Contact Email

Phone Number

Mobile Phone

Optional Gender, Ethnicity and Race Identification

This is used for maintaining the records for program research or survey response, and in the production of summary descriptive statistics and analytical studies.

Providing this information is voluntary and has no impact on your application.

What gender do you identify as?

Self-Declared Gender

Ethnicity

Racial Group (pick as many as apply)

Please select the category or categories with which you most closely identify.

Are you disabled?

This field is required

Veteran Status

I am a veteran of the US Armed Forces

This field is required

I am an Active Duty Member

This field is required

I live with an immediate family member who is an Active Duty Member

This field is required

As an RSVP volunteer, you are insured for supplemental volunteer accident and personal liability while volunteering at a volunteer site. This is strictly secondary insurance at NO COST to you. Since there is a small accidental death benefit involved, you are asked to name a beneficiary.

Beneficiary Information for AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Supplemental Insurance:

Beneficiary Name

Beneficiary Relationship

Beneficiary Address

Beneficiary Phone

Emergency Contact Name

Emergency Contact Phone Number

Emergency Contact Relationship

I understand, (excluding the supplemental volunteer accident insurance provided), that my activities as a volunteer for HandsOn Central California (HOCC) are undertaken at my sole risk, and HOCC will not be liable for any claims for injuries or damages whatsoever to my person or property arising out of or connected with my actions as a RSVP volunteer. I agree to indemnify and to hold harmless HOCC for all cliams and/or liability for me or to me. I also agree that this waiver and release shall apply to my heir(s), executor(s), and administrator(s).

I understand that by agreeing to this waiver, I give permission to use my image in educational and/or public relations materials.

I volunteer my services through the HandsOnCentral California AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Program, and I undrstand that I will be placed in a volunteer position, not a paying job. My volunteering is at my discretion and does not interfere with job search or employment.

I have carefully read this Waiver/Release, I understand its contents, and I intend to be bound by its terms.

I agree

This field is required

Cancel Submit application to serve as an AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteer!

RSVP Impact Areas

RSVP Volunteer Requirements

Why should you volunteer?

Benefits to Volunteering

Meet Clifford and Madeline Gartin RSVP Volunteers

Optional Gender, Ethnicity and Race Identification

Providing this information is voluntary and has no impact on your application.

Support us

©2022 HandsOn Central California, an affiliate of the HandsOn Network

HandsOn Central California, 1625 E. Shaw Ave. #160 | Fresno, CA 93710 Privacy Policy Terms of Use

Common Messages