FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
02/11/2021
843-260-8358
[email protected]
Neighbor to Neighbor of South Carolina Awarded $75,000 to Support Senior Volunteer Service
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Funding will support 199 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Neighbor to Neighbor of South Carolina (N2N) announced today that it has received an AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grant of $75,000 from the AmeriCorps federal agency to support 199 RSVP volunteers serving in Horry County. The grant will expand N2N’s presence in Horry County, which was previously unserved by an AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP project.
“This opportunity will leverage the existing Neighbor to Neighbor program by providing more outreach and impact across Horry County,” says Joe Kunkel, Executive Director.
With this new funding, N2N will be able to provide more volunteer opportunities and capitalize on the skills and expertise of those volunteers living in Horry County. These AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will provide transportation to medical appointments, companionship through phone calls, and deliver healthy food to increase food security all across the Horry County.
N2N has adapted by providing food delivery and wellness calls as a response to COVID-19. Bringing these new programs to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities has brought connections and engagement to many who have been isolated and unable to drive themselves.
Volunteers can sign up by going to the website https://riden2n.org/volunteer, calling 843-260-8358, or emailing Jason Walter at [email protected]
Throughout the challenges of 2020, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers persisted, supporting communities as they respond and recover from the impact of COVID-19. These dedicated volunteers have combatted food insecurity, helped students transition to online schooling, connected veterans to jobs and benefits, and responded to the community need created by the pandemic. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers continue to respond creatively to the challenges presented by COVID-19, adapting their service models to better serve their communities while staying safe. These new COVID-safe service initiatives include sewing masks for first responders, making daily wellness calls to homebound senior citizens, and contact tracing.
AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers stay healthy and active through service, improving their own lives as they improve the lives of others. A growing body of research affirms the numerous mental and physical health benefits of volunteerism, including lower mortality rates, decreased rates of depression, and increased strength and energy. Findings from a recent agency-sponsored study show that AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serving with the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs report feeling less depressed and isolated, along with stable or improved health scores.
Today, AmeriCorps Seniors engages approximately 195,000 older Americans in service at 29,800 locations across the United States and territories through its Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs. Established in 1971, RSVP engages Americans age 55 and older in service, responding to our nation’s most pressing challenges.
Founded in 2005, Neighbor to Neighbor of South Carolina (N2N) is an award-winning organization that works diligently to promote independence and relieve isolation in Horry and Georgetown Counties in South Carolina and Brunswick County in North Carolina. N2N works to make sure our senior and vulnerable neighbors are able to live independently and with dignity through a network of established community resources and programming such as transportation, wellness calls, and pantry deliveries.
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