RSVP Honors Senior Volunteers

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Northern Fairfield County (RSVP) will hold a recognition and recruitment event at the Newtown Senior Center on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook on Tuesday, October 9, at 1 pm.

RSVP members are all over the age of 55 and perform such volunteer services as delivering meals to homebound people, tutoring teenagers, renovating homes, teaching English to immigrants, transporting elderly and disabled people to their medical appointments, helping people recover from natural disasters – whatever their skills and interests lead them to do.

The Northern Fairfield County RSVP has more than 600 members who come from the towns of Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, and Ridgefield. This past year the 600 members volunteered for more than 60,000 hours, saving their communities more than $927,000.

Part of the National Senior Service Corps, RSVP is a nonprofit organization sponsored by the Western Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross. It is funded by a combination of grants from federal and state government, as well as by the United Way.

RSVP members and those interested also are invited to attend a program at the Colorado Brewery & Steak House in Danbury from 1 to 3 pm on Monday, October 29. The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. To make a reservation, or for more information, call 792-8200 and ask for Rheba Escalera, director, or Rhona Gordon, program coordinator.