Mission Statement
RSVP Mission Statement
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) gives seniors, aged 55 or over, an opportunity to volunteer in meaningful capacities throughout Baltimore County. Through partnerships with local non-profit organizations and government agencies, volunteers are able to find challenging, rewarding, and significant service opportunities in their local communities.
RSVP Hunger Corps Mission Statement
To address the needs of the food insecure across the entire Baltimore region and in an effort to support the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Healthy Futures initiatives, the Baltimore County Department of Aging has created the RSVP Hunger Corps (The Corps). The Corps serves to decrease food insecurity and increase food access throughout Baltimore by providing volunteers with opportunities to serve in direct capacities to end hunger in Baltimore County.
Description
Since the year 2008, food insecurity and hunger has been on the rise in the Baltimore region, leaving thousands of people unable to adequately provide enough food for themselves or their families. In fact, a national study has found that nearly 1 in 6 Marylanders cannot afford enough food to sustain themselves or their families 1; making it more important than ever to meet the needs of Maryland’s food insecure individuals.
In an effort to support local anti-hunger initiatives and contribute to the end of hunger throughout Baltimore County, the Baltimore County Department of Aging has commissioned the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Hunger Corps to increase food access and decrease food insecurity among Baltimore County residents. RSVP Hunger Corps provides senior volunteers, aged 55 or older, an opportunity to join the fight against hunger in their community. Through unique partnerships with non-profit organizations and government agencies, volunteers are paired with local sites to support local anti-hunger initiatives and hunger service programs.
RSVP Hunger Corps volunteers serve in a variety of capacities including: providing nutrition education for at-risk communities, serving free meals to children in afterschool and summer programs, stocking and sorting food at local food pantries, sustaining and supporting community gardens, providing outreach and enrollment assistance for SNAP (formally Food Stamps), and serving meals at local soup kitchens and emergency shelters. Volunteers make their own schedules, deciding how often and for how long they would like to volunteer, at one of the many volunteer sites located throughout Baltimore County.
1Food Research Action Center, Food Hardship in America Report (2012)
