The Volunteer Foundation of Douglas County, Oregon was established in 1989 through a generous endowment from a community member to support our area’s Senior Corps volunteer programs. Supporting senior volunteers benefits us all in many ways: --Volunteers are crucial economic resources in our community. “No matter how big and powerful government gets, and the many services it provides, it can never take the place of volunteers.” Ronald Reagan. Based on an estimated dollar value of volunteer time of $21.85 per hour, our community’s senior volunteers donated $87,996,245 worth of services to Douglas County during the last 35 years, to over 100 sites. --Volunteers benefit from donating their time and talent, living longer and more satisfying lives. Volunteers stay connected with their community and have more friends and acquaintances. Volunteers derive a feeling of accomplishment by being part of something larger than themselves. Volunteers notice an increase in well-being, and feel more productive and energized. “When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.” --Eleanor Roosevelt --People from all income brackets can acquire new skills and make valued volunteer contributions. Senior Corps provides training for a variety of volunteer positions. Volunteers can acquire skills in management, advertising, computers and many other areas. Certain volunteer programs offer qualified low income citizens small stipends, meals and mileage reimbursement to make volunteerism possible. Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency conceived during John F. Kennedy's presidency. Established in our area in 1973, the Senior Corps programs in Douglas County have been administered by UCAN since 2010. A sample of Senior Corps volunteer opportunities in our area includes: The Foster Grandparent Program, which serves children and young people with exceptional needs. Volunteers are paired with students in classrooms spanning districts from Canyonville to Drain. The Senior Companion Program, which serves the frail elderly, helping them to remain living independently. Companions help out on a personal level by assisting with shopping and light chores, interacting with doctors, or just making a friendly visit. RSVP connects volunteers with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability. RSVP volunteers can be found throughout the county providing services such as • Tax Aid: assists low income residents with income tax preparation and filing. • Prescription Assistance: enables those lacking prescription insurance to receive medications for free or at reduced cost. • Money Management: assistance with budgeting and bill paying. • SHIBA - (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance) - educates medicare beneficiaries regarding available health care coverage choices. Helps medicare recipients resolve coverage issues. • Working with nonprofit and governmental organizations ✓ Volunteers in Police ✓ Food Pantry assistance ✓ Saving Grace Animal Shelter ✓ Hospice Volunteers ✓ Volunteer Management 101 Classes for placement in area non profit organizations ✓ Hot meal delivery through Meals on Wheels ✓ Veterans Services Hospital Volunteers How you can help support volunteerism in our community: Senior Corps programs are funded by a combination of federal, state and private sources. Local financial support is essential to qualify for matching federal grants. Donations also make it possible for low income seniors to commute to their volunteer sites by way of small offsets to transportation expenses, and to purchase insurance to limit out of pocket expenses should onsite injuries occur. Those who make a charitable gift to The Volunteer Foundation enable Douglas County to be a caring community. Generosity comes in all forms. Consider making a bequest or a tax deductible gift of cash, securities, life insurance, or real estate. To make a donation, contact Eric Harvey, Treasurer, The Volunteer Foundation of Douglas County 605 SE Kane St Roseburg, OR 97470 (541) 673-4909 Or, make a secure donation through Paypal