Q: Who can volunteer?

A: SRIV engages volunteers of all ages (children under 13 years are welcome to accompany parents on appropriate volunteer activities). Volunteers 13-17 years of age are welcome for age appropriate service opportunities and to complete school and civic community service hours. Locations/agencies for teens are very limited. Volunteers 18 plus years of age are welcome for any/all opportunities. A criminal history background check is required for all 18 plus years of age volunteers prior to placement. SRIV also conducts checks of national sexual predator registries prior to placement. Volunteers are welcome regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or disability.

Q: How do I get started?

A: Complete your volunteer registration forms by using the links on the previous page. This will include a registration form, policies and procedures form and the Attorney General’s disclaimer for a Criminal History Background Check which must include a copy of your driver’s license or state issued ID. Over 62 the BCI is free for those 61 and under there is a $5 fee and your paperwork must be accompanied by $5 in cash or a $5 check made payable to the RI Attorney General. (You can mail this or bring this to your interview).

Or you can print-out, complete and mail these forms to SRIV, P.O. Box 1047 Charlestown, RI 02813 or call our main office at (401) 552-7661 and we will mail you hard copies of the forms.

B: Make an appointment for your volunteer interview/orientation with the Americorps Seniors Program Director, Jessen. He will provide you with information on opportunities to meet your interests and goals during your appointment.

Q: Where can I volunteer?

A: You can volunteer with a number of area agencies to address community issues that meet your goals.

AT SRIV:

Independent Aging Services Program—Healthy Futures

  • Transport assistance for older citizens to healthcare appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, personal care-hair salons & barbers, housing appointments, housing and independence necessary appointments.

  • Delivery of food: Meals on Wheels, grocery store pick up and delivery, food pantry and/or farmers’ markets food delivery.

  • Personal grocery shopping and delivery for a specific older citizen SRIV client.

  • Companionship/visitation for a homebound older senior and/or respite care for their full-time older citizen caregiver

  • Telephone visitation

  • Minor home safety assistance (seasonal)—walkways only—-fall clean up of walkways into the home to remove twig and leaf debris, snow shoveling during winter after storms with snowfall of 3 inches or more of walkways into the home, paths to outdoor trash cans or other safety areas—no shoveling of driveways.

Community Events: SRIV supports local community events such as the Charlestown Seafood Festival, the Washington County Fair, Duffle Bag Bash for Adoption RI, and two agency events annually Edna Bernier Memorial Bowled Over for SRIVolunteers (March/April) and Applumpkin Children’s Fall Festival (October). Other events as posted on our Facebook page or news/events pages on our website.

SRIV's office/programs/services: There are many opportunities in the office and flexible schedules 2 to 4 hours depending on what you’d like to do. Support the hundreds of volunteers who are supporting our southern third of Rhode Island behind the scenes at our Charlestown office: Clerical tasks, answering phones assisting older citizens in need and/or volunteers, older citizen client contact to access services and more, data entry, and other behind the scenes support tasks. Shifts at our Charlestown office are arranged between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm and are flexible Monday through Thursday.

Q:  Where does SRIV's funding come from?

A: SRIV receives a single federal grant that helps to support the Americorps Seniors Washington County RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). All other sources of revenue are derived from foundation grants, individual donors, limited municipal appropriations and fundraising efforts. The largest portion of SRIV’s revenues are received from generous individual donors and foundation grants. SRIV does not charge any fees for assistance to those in need. Your generosity for neighbors in need is the fuel that propels SRIV’s services to older citizens and Veterans as well as our greater communities each and every year. Thank you!

Have more questions? contact us!