History
Carbon County RSVP originally began in 1973 as one of the first pilot programs in the nation to implement a volunteer program focused specifically on engaging individuals 55 and older in volunteer service. RSVP is federally funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, and is sponsored and supported locally by Carbon County Government.
Carbon County Government has been the sponsor of Carbon County RSVP for the past twenty-four years. We currently have 227 RSVP volunteers that put in over 32,000 hours of volunteer time annually.
Carbon County Government and our County Commissioners play a huge role in the success of our program. Their ongoing support (through financial and in-kind donations of time and resources) makes it possible to focus full-time on the needs of our community and leverage volunteers to address issues that affect all of us.
In 2009 we incorporated a much needed Volunteer Center component that has enabled us to recruit and support volunteers of all ages.
Carbon County RSVP & Volunteer Center is part of a national network of Senior Corps programs.
SENIOR CORPS is a federally authorized and funded network of national service programs that provide older Americans with the opportunity to apply their life experiences to meeting community needs. Senior Corps is comprised of the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP, and the Senior Companion Program, through which about 500,000 Americans age 55 and older use their skills and experience to cost-effectively address vital community needs.
RSVP connects volunteers 55 and older with service opportunities that impact positive change, improve quality of life and meet critical needs in their communities. RSVP volunteers help build capacity and improve sustainability in agencies and organizations where they serve. RSVP engages seniors in a wide array of community services including health, nutrition, human services, education, community and economic development, and public safety to nonprofit and community based organizations. 429,000 RSVP volunteers contribute 66 million hours of service through 741 RSVP projects nationwide, and work with more than 60,000 community organizations. RSVP offers flexible volunteer opportunities with commitments from a few hours a week to 40 hours a week.
The Senior Corps - Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP, and Senior Companion Program - has nearly 45 years of successful performance measurement and has provided cost-effective services to Americans who need attention or a helping hand - saving Americans millions of dollars. For decades, the Senior Corps programs and older volunteers have been the cornerstone of national service and civic engagement. During difficult Federal budget times, senior volunteers are a stabilizing force in communities across our nation by providing the most cost-effective service to those in need. Now, as our communities are faced with increasing needs and shrinking resources, Senior Corps volunteers are a vital natural resource to help our communities meet the critical health and social challenges facing our Nation.
Carbon County RSVP & Volunteer Center is also a part of the Utah Volunteer Centers Association.
The Utah Volunteer Centers Association collaborates with the Utah Commission on Volunteers to coordinate voluntary service throughout the state.
Volunteer Centers are established to connect volunteers with service opportunities in their communities. Utah's Volunteer Centers are part of the Volunteer Center National Network of over 450 Volunteer Centers that partner with the Points of Light Foundation – a national nonprofit organization – to help individuals, groups, and families become effectively engaged in service to their communities.
There are 11 Volunteer Centers in Utah.