RSVP will be sorely missed service

We were disappointed to learn that the longstanding and valuable Retired and Senior Volunteer Program will cease operations this spring, apparently under the weight of shrinking funding and expanding administrative requirements.

The county service connects older adults with various volunteer opportunities that match their skills and interests. The program has assisted countless nonprofits in the valley since it began in 1973, while offering seniors a chance to stay active in their field of expertise.

At a high point in 2008, more than 526 volunteers were a part of the system. These folks donated their time to critical agencies such as Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross, the Humane Society, food banks, schools, libraries, museums and hospitals, to name just a few. Last year alone, RSVP volunteers gave 35,262 hours of service — that’s more than four years worth of volunteer hours packed into a single calendar year.

Flathead County serves as the program’s local sponsor, providing some funding and office space. The remainder of the funding comes through federal and local grants.

County commissioners made the decision this month to not renew the program’s federal grant for another year after determining the long-term health of the service wasn’t sustainable.

“In running the numbers, even if we get the grant ... we’re going to be out of money at the end of June,” noted Lisa Sheppard, the director of the Flathead Agency on Aging.

That’s tough to hear, considering how the loss of this program will sharply impact many of the valley’s nonprofits. A gaping void will be left in how ready-and-able volunteers are connected to places where they can get to work helping others. Because let’s be honest, most volunteers with boots on the ground are retired seniors who are no longer taxed with the commitments of a 40-hour work week or raising young children. They have the time, and desire, to help make our valley a better place.

We hold out hope that there is a way to revive this service within the county or that it finds a new sponsor willing to connect people to these often crucial volunteer positions.