People 55 and older in Lee and Whiteside counties looking to stay active soon will have more opportunities to do so, courtesy of Lifescape Community Services.
Lifescape is the new sponsor of RSVP, the Americorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, which already is established in Winnebago and Boone counties, and will begin April 1 in Lee, Whiteside and DeKalb counties.
“It’s for the more active senior who’s looking for a way to give back and volunteer and join a fun community,” said Zach Satterlee, Lifescape’s fund development and marketing director. “We’re excited to expand.”
Organizations that have partnered with RSVP include the Franklin Creek Conservation Association, Illinois RiverWatch Network, United Way, JourneyCare, Lee County Council on Aging, Family Services, Whiteside County Soil and Water Conservation, DeKalb Elder Care, and the DeKalb County Forest Preserve.
RSVP will find the right fit for anyone who wants to volunteer, Satterlee said.
“We’re focusing on working with forest preserves and natural areas,” Satterlee said. “If you’re interested in working outside, you can go plant seeds along trails. There’s also the United Way and the Salvation Army, and volunteer opportunities that they have. Then you can also work with seniors through our programs, or you can work with seniors through hospice care. There’s a wide variety.”
Those interested can go to www.lifescapeservices.org or call RSVP director Carli Jonet at 815-963-1609 for more information.
“We [Lifescape] host a ton of different services for seniors, and this one is really unique,” Satterlee said.
“We feed people with our Meals on Wheels. We provide transportation, but this is the next level of service for seniors who are active and interested in doing stuff in their community.”