Be a Pen Pal! Seeking volunteers 55+ to write young students!

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Friends With Pens is an intergenerational program, run through the RSVP program at VCI, which aims to support early literacy, vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension among children in low-income Orange County Public Schools. This exciting new opportunity is currently recruiting new volunteers to write to students from grades 1-6. This past year, we piloted the program with first graders at Rosemont Elementary, and it was so successful, we decided to expand it for the 2017-2018 school year.

This is a low-input, extremely flexible volunteer opportunity which you can participate in from anywhere. The hours are worked out between yourself and the RSVP coordinator at VCI, and they will take care of the delivery of the letters to the school. Children will write one to two letters a month on a previously given topic, and you simply respond to their questions, share some fun details about your life and, most importantly, HAVE FUN! The application process is simple, and less involved than the traditional OCPS volunteer application.

VCI’s part in this opportunity, aside from running the program, is to provide volunteers with a (free!) comprehensive benefits package-CIMA Supplemental insurance, a Life Insurance benefit, free workshops and more! Call your RSVP Coordinator, Michelle Caibio, for more information: 407-298-2725, x113 / 863-214-5045.

RSVP, a part of SeniorCorps, is America's largest volunteer network for people 55 and over, with more than 300,000 volunteers tackling tough issues in communities nationwide. RSVP shows you how you can apply the skills and wisdom you've acquired throughout your life to make a positive difference in the lives of others. RSVP is federally funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.