The City of Brotherly Love has a new opportunity to give back! The Mayor’s Commission on Aging is launching the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Philadelphia. RSVP, a well-established AmeriCorps program, has paired thousands of people nationwide with organizations making change in communities. Adults ages 55 and older get to choose volunteer work that matters, and RSVP will be right there to help you find the right fit.

AmeriCorps found that 88 percent of volunteers who felt lonely felt less alone after they started serving. 84 percent reported their health stayed the same or improved after one year.

Philadelphia has a large population of older adults, each bringing their own unique skills, experiences, and priorities. Different goals create different needs, and not everyone is looking for employment or job training. Some simply want opportunities to stay active, connect with others, and give back. Through RSVP, we can support even more older adults who want to get involved in ways that are meaningful to them.

RSVP connects you to local organizations and businesses already helping Philadelphians in areas like health and wellness, food access, transit access, and more. Oftentimes, as participants extend a hand to neighbors and peers, they begin to feel a difference in their own lives.

RSVP offers a new community. It serves as an opportunity to share experiences, make friends, and be a part of something bigger. Our older Philadelphians get to step outside and get moving. They also have the opportunity to apply existing skills to meaningful work all while building social connections and sharpening skills. And, since the choice is yours, you get to serve a cause you truly care about.

RSVP is also looking for “volunteer stations” interested in assisting with placement, guidance, and supervision of RSVP volunteers. These volunteer stations are where RSVP volunteers will serve. A station can be a public agency, a nonprofit, or a health care organization. Nonprofits can be secular or faith-based.

Stations assign and supervise RSVP volunteers in health, education, and social service settings. Serving volunteer stations must be licensed or certified where the state or city requires it. Private homes cannot be volunteer stations.