442 RSVP volunteers donated 75,400 hours in 2010. This is equal to 36 full time employees with a value of over 1.5 million dollars using the federal rate of $20.25 value of a volunteer hour. The top four service categories for volunteers were Community and Economic Development, Health/Nutrition, Education and Human Needs.

Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers are a community based volunteer program with 195 active members volunteering in the areas of disaster recovery, assistive technology, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) educational programs, designing and building ramps for the Wheelchair Ramp Accessibility Program, and rebuilding computers at REACT. Transportation programs to non-emergency medical appointments and tax assistance round out the service category with 34,000 hours for community and economic development.

Health/Nutrition is the second largest volunteer category. Delivering meals for meals on wheels programs, providing help at local food pantries, serving at congregate meal sites, helping at clinics, hospices and providing a wide range of volunteer service at the local hospitals are 180 volunteers giving over 20,000 hours in this category.

Education is important to RSVP volunteers. Volunteers tutor at all levels in the schools and help newcomers to this country with their English reading, writing and speaking skills. Cultural Heritage is part of this category. Local small town historical societies exist because of volunteers. 104 volunteers gave nearly 9,000 hours in this category.

85 volunteers donated nearly 8,000 hours in the Human Needs category. Senior Health Insurance Information Program counselors provide assistance on Medicare/Medicaid programs. RSVP's Companionship Outreach Program has volunteers visiting those who have few visitors in the nursing homes. Other opportunities are assisting at local clothes closets and mediating for Linn County Small Claims Courts.

RSVP volunteers are people 55+ that are making a difference in our communities. If you are 55 or older and would like to get involved, please call the RSVP office at United Way at 398-5372 x37.

RSVP has 12 volunteers that are still actively volunteering at age 90 plus with four more joining this exclusive group in 2011. RSVP's oldest volunteer, Dale Somers, and his wife Mary, 91, are both active volunteers with the Central City Historical Society. At 92, Helen Kurth continues her position as volunteer coordinator at Coggon Historical Society. Blanche Hinton volunteers with VNA immunization program and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

There is an active group of 91 year olds. Irene Detert is known as the plant lady at St.Luke's Hospital. Lillian Kopecky volunteers at the Linn Community Food Bank and the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Mary Mortensen volunteers with VNA immunization program.

Six volunteers joined this group in 2010. Frank Hinds volunteers at the Marion Food Pantry and Helen Macek at the Linn Community Food Bank. Jean Stoner averages 35 hours a month at the Lisbon History Center. Donald Musil volunteers at the Ely Dining site and Grant Faust delivers meals in Coggon.

Celebrating their 9th decade birthday this year are Hedy Benesh, a volunteer at Linn Community Food Bank; Bob Henderson, a meal deliverer in Central City and Coggan; Rachel Hodina, the volunteer recorder for Ely Senior Dining; and Marvin Jansen, driver for Meals on Wheels Outreach in Monticello.

These are inspirational volunteers who truly believe you are never to old to give back to your community.

Emergency Volunteer Center Training prepares participants to staff an Emergency Volunteer Center. The training includes an interactive Emergency Volunteer Center exercise where participants experience the EVC model and practice managing spontaneous volunteers. The training will be held Saturday, March 5, 8am-12pm, at River of Life Ministries, 3801 Blairs Ferry Road in Cedar Rapids. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required. Click here for more information and/or to register.