UCare Fund Grant Sustains Skyway Senior Center

During this time of budget shortages, we are pleased to announce that the UCare Fund has awarded a three year grant to the Skyway Senior Center in downtown Minneapolis. The Center is located in the Target building at 950 Nicollet Mall #290. UCare also awarded the center a second grant from its Community Benefit Program. The partnership between UCare and the City of Minneapolis will enable the center to continuing serving seniors and provide an opportunity for additional programs and services for participants. The UCare Fund is a community-directed initiative; its grants focus on a broad array of community initiatives that improve the health of underserved populations in Minnesota.

For the past 5 years, the City of Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support had partnered with Medica to support the Minneapolis Skyway Senior Center. Medica also provided transitional support for 2010 which helped sustain the future of the Center. Without such funding, places like Skyway Senior Center couldn’t exist.

Approximately 70 visitors drop by the Center daily. Some come for help with medical forms, finding housing or help picking out a drug plan. Others come for the monthly foot-care clinic, watch a movie, socialize at the numerous activities or just sit back and have a cup of coffee.

RSVP partners with The Skyway Senior Center to support and encourage volunteerism of mature adults in the community. Volunteers provide a great service to the program, contributing to the success of the center as well as getting personal satisfaction from giving and doing a great job. Volunteers share their talents as hosts, receptionists, computer assistants and serving on the Advisory Committee.

The future of Skyway Senior Center looks bright with the support of UCare, private donations, and efforts of the Skyway Senior Center Board and Advisory Committee. Come visit the center and learn about the programs and benefits the Center offers-- and perhaps get involved by volunteering as an RSVP member.

For more info, visit their website at: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/senior_skyway.asp

1st Inaugural Scott-Carver PCC a Great Success!

On November 23rd, our RSVP program was involved with Scott and Carver counties first ever Project Community Connect. This one stop shop event for individuals and families living on little or experiencing homelessness, is based on the national model of Project Homeless Connect.

140 volunteers participated and 125 guests received services on the day of the event taking place from 9:30-5pm.80 service providers offered resources ranging from medical and dental care to legal advising to housing assessments.

Next year we hope to be a part of this event again and will keep RSVP volunteers posted when the next event takes place! There are opportunities for volunteers, donors and sponsors to participate in many different ways.

In Memory of Violet Morales

Victor Morales has spent the last 17 years volunteering alongside his wife, Violet, in their North Minneapolis neighborhood. When she passed away this summer at age 90, Victor sent a much appreciated memorial donation to RSVP-- in memory of Violet and her love of volunteering. Victor and Violet worked together at VOA North Center’s food bank. “We went there every week unless she was sick,” said Victor. Generous with her time, Violet’s volunteer assignments throughout the years included being on a planning committee for North Center, as well as working as a tour escort, arts and crafts instructor, and receptionist. She also volunteered at North Commons Park and the Ascension Club. Meanwhile, Victor has lent his skills to the Boy Scouts and other local groups, and he continues to volunteer at North Center’s food bank. (We’re sure that Violet is watching with a smile).

Project Community Connect looking for volunteers, donors and sponsors!

PCC will assist families at risk of homelessness from Scott and Carver counties on November 23rd at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN.


Our RSVP program is involved with Project Community Connect (PCC). PCC is a one-day, “one stop-shop” event on November 23, 2010 to provide information and resources to homeless individuals and families from Scott and Carver counties. Services offered at the event include: housing information; employment services; legal assistance; obtaining documents such as Minnesota identification and birth certificates; basic medical care and dental services; haircuts; and education information. Additionally, resources from local governmental agencies, non-profit organizations and the community’s citizenry will address the issue of homelessness and poverty at the event. The PCC event will be held at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN on November 23, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A variety of volunteer positions are available now through the date of the event.

Contact mhorton@voamn.org for more information!

MN Senior Corps- A Legacy Lasting Long After World Cup Fever:

Nelson Mandela Day, a day of service in honor of an international hero, sets the world stage for volunteerism on July 18th, 2010.

London’s 2008 birthday celebration for Nelson Mandela in Hyde Park attracted international attention on a large scale as musicians and performers gathered to honor the human embodiment of universal hope and change. On this day, the former prisoner of South Africa’s apartheid government and Nobel Peace prize winning fighter for social justice and freedom for all, declared “It is time for the next generations to continue our struggle against social injustice and for the rights of humanity. It is in your hands.”

Fast forward one year later to July 18, 2009, Mandela’s 90th birthday, a celebration in New York City for the first ever Nelson Mandela Day. As stated on the website MandelaDay.org, “Mandela Day is an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life and a global call to action for people to recognize their individual ability to make an imprint and change the world around them.” What better time to get involved than now when national volunteering is at an all time high and non profits are looking to optimize their resources with new innovation? This month the World Cup is hosted on African soil for the first time in history, an incredible honor for the country of South Africa and for their most historic leader, Nelson Mandela. The opening ceremony in Johannesburg honored this man who worked to unite the country during times of significant racial oppression. The justice that Mandela fought for is now being honored on an annual basis through the creation of Nelson Mandela Day, to occur each year on his birthday.

The message of this international day of service focuses on the 67 years of service that Mandela spent fighting for equality and justice. This is meant to inspire people to spend 67 minutes of this day in serving a local charity. While it is a noble cause to honor this great hero, I find 67 minutes an insufficient amount to honor such a legendary ambassador of service. In my work with non profits in Carver County, identifying and developing volunteer positions for adults 55+ through our RSVP program, I have come to the realization that there are plenty of volunteer positions, both conventional and professionally skilled, but there is a lack of knowledge when it comes to opportunities and how to get involved. Organizations in Carver County, such as Ridgeview Medical Center and Arboretum, have many volunteers working with these well known organizations. There are some smaller, lesser known non profits, however, that are in need of volunteers willing to utilize their experiences and skills. If people are made more aware of this need for pro bono services, maybe there would be an influx of professionally skilled Baby Boomers, willing to offer their services to non profits.

The Twin Cities are consistently ranked number one in having the most volunteer involvement when compared to other major cities in the United States. Volunteer organizations like HandsOn Twin Cities, volunteer management resources provided by leading experts at Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration and helpful search engines like VolunteerMatch.org, provide those within close distance of the Twin Cities a wide variety of easily accessible volunteer opportunities. For some in Carver County, however, commuting into the city to volunteer is not an option, especially if they are still working during the day.

The most recent 2009 data collected on national volunteering trends from the Corporation for National and Community Service provides us with a better idea of who is volunteering, how often they are serving their communities and in what capacities. Minnesota consistently ranks in the top three for highest percentage of residents involved in volunteering with a total of 1.5 million Minnesota residents volunteering, according to data averaged from 2007-2009. This study also looks at different age groups, income, education and employment rates. States with higher unemployment rates had a lower number of volunteers and in states like Minnesota with a low unemployment rate of 7.6% when compared to the national rate of 8.5%, more residents were involved as volunteers than in states with a higher unemployment rate. States like Minnesota with higher volunteer rates, also have lower rates of heart disease.

We all know that these trends didn’t come about because we limited ourselves to one day or 67 minutes of service. In order to make an impact in our communities, individuals need to be mobilized daily to inspire change in partnership with area non profits and agencies working to help those in need. After all, isn’t that what building a healthy and thriving community is all about? The more opportunities we have to get involved in improving our neighborhoods, the more we will be empowered as local change agents. The more we are empowered and fulfilled in our local environments, the more likely we will be to actively age in place and build stronger communities together.

For older adults 55 and over, RSVP in Carver County is looking to engage your life experience while we partner with local non profits to fulfill their missions. We can provide flexible volunteering opportunities to work around your busy summer schedules and we want to hear from you about your interests. Mobilizing individuals and utilizing their strengths and passions is the key to building a stronger and healthier Carver County. 365 days a year.

Mary Jane Horton is an Americorps VISTA member assigned to Volunteers of America and their RSVP program in Carver County and also through Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration as an Outreach Coordinator for volunteer managers across the state. She can be reached by email at mhorton@voamn.org.

Volunteer Speed Match

On May 21st, RSVP in conjunction with Carver County Office of Aging, Chanhassen Senior Center and Advisory Board, and the Chanhassen Senior Commission, orchestrated the county's first ever Volunteer Speed Match in Chanhassen, MN.

Fifteen Organizations from around the county attended and presented their volunteer opportunities to eager volunteer prospects during two hour and half long sessions. Each participant had three minutes at each organization's table to discuss what they were looking for in a volunteering position and for that organization to impress them with their opportunities.

The event was a success and participants gave positive feedback saying that they were grateful to learn so much in such a short time about what the county had to offer volunteers.

Volunteer Opportunities

Check this blogspot in the future for RSVP volunteer events and recent updates in the Greater Twin Cities West/Southwest Metro Area.