The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) provides fulfilling volunteer opportunities for people age 55 and older. Below are a few of our current opportunities. To learn about additional ways to serve, email Jan at jkarst@rsvpdane.org or call 608-441-7891.
UW Arboretum is looking for Assistant Naturalists at their summer Earth Focus Day Camp . Help kids enjoy outdoor games, hikes, story time, and snacks. Volunteers sign up for morning or afternoon shifts, Monday–Friday, for one camp week.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison needs Family Room Volunteers at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital. Duties include welcoming families, tidying spaces, restocking food and supplies, making beds/turning over bedrooms, giving tours, and offering warmth and support. Saturdays 9am–12pm and/or occasional weekday afternoons 1–5pm.
Neighborhood House Community Center is seeking volunteers for a weekly older adult drop-in program. Help greet guests, serve coffee, chat, and build community. Mondays 11am–12:30pm on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th weeks of the month.
Henry Vilas Zoo needs volunteers to help with gardening (join a fun, weekly Gardening Work Group) on Thursdays from 8:30-11:30am. Train and Carousel volunteers are also needed to keep the children’s train and carousel running! Shifts are mostly 1-4pm on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. Gate Greeters are needed on Thursdays- Sundays from 12:30-3:30pm.
The Textile Art Center of Madison is looking for volunteers to sort incoming fiber art donations, support sales and other special events, aid workshops, and more!
PBS WISCONSIN needs volunteers to keep the “public” in public television by helping at great events like the Garden and Green Living Expo, the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, PBS Auction, Membership Drives, and the Welcome Neighbor Project.
The BOARD ON AGING AND LONG-TERM CARE needs volunteer Ombudsmen to advocate for nursing home residents and their families through visits, support, and communication assistance. Training provided.
OPERATION FRESH START empowers adults through education, mentoring, and employment training. They are seeking front desk volunteers to greet visitors, maintain sign-in sheets, answer phone calls, and perform other light clerical duties. Shifts are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3pm-5:15pm at their office on Milwaukee St.
ST VINCENT’S FOOD PANTRY needs volunteers to sort and shelve produce in the mornings from 8am – 10am. They also have shifts for Client Greeters, Online Order Fillers, Outside Food Loaders, and Cart Attendants. The need for food resources has increased, and many volunteers are needed to keep the Pantry running.
BADGER PRAIRIE NEEDS NETWORK is a resource center in Verona, totally run by volunteers that provides not only a Food Pantry but also social services and resources in Dane County. Volunteers are needed in the Food Pantry and for picking up and delivering donated food from stores and businesses in the area.
SSM ST MARYS HOSPITAL needs help with their At Your Service program (escorting patients and families, delivering belongings), Patient Registration (welcoming patients and escorting them to their destination), Surgical Waiting Area (supporting families while their loved one is in surgery, offering a caring presence and support through touch and conversation).
HABITAT RESTORE needs volunteers to help sort and shelve used and new building materials and supplies, assist shoppers, and work at the cash register with purchases.
Donation Processing: ReStore East and West – unloading donation trucks, sorting donated items, assembling/repairing small items, and merchandising the store floor. Shifts are 9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm, Tuesdays-Saturdays.
Construction: Oregon – build homes/duplexes! No experience is needed as all tools and training will be provided on site. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8:15am-3:30pm @ 557 Kay Ct, Oregon WI
Contact Mike at techskills@rsvpdane.org about becoming a Senior Planet Technology Skills Trainer or a One-on-One Tech Skills Tutor. If you feel confident using your laptop and smartphone and enjoy helping others with theirs, you can be a big help to many older adults in Dane County who are having difficulty using their devices.
Senior Planet Tech Skills Trainers lead or assist with in-person, small group Senior Planet tech skills classes for older adults. We offer classes at five locations in Dane County, and to make classes available in more locations, we need more volunteer Trainers. One-on-One Tech Skills Tutors offer individualized help to older adults with tech skills challenges.
Our Triad Program needs volunteers to help plan monthly safety education events, write occasional safety articles, plan the annual Senior Safety Resource Fair and the annual Driver Safety Month. Triad brings together older adults, law enforcement and community organizations to promote safety, healthy living and to reduce the fear of crime. If you enjoy writing and raising seniors’ awareness of safety concerns, please email our Triad Coordinator at triadcoordinator@rsvpdane.org.
To learn more about these unique opportunities, contact Paula at 608-441-7894 or preif@rsvpdane.org.
RSVP’s Foster Grandparent Program is seeking volunteers to support children in Madison Head Start Centers and elementary schools. Foster Grandparents offer one-on-one tutoring and attention to students who need extra support in literacy and social/emotional development, working a minimum of five hours per week. Eligible volunteers receive a stipend and transportation reimbursement.
The Vera Court Community Center (614 Vera Court, Madison, WI 53704), needs volunteers for their Elementary Student Summer Programs. Program Dates are June 22- August 15.
Mondays 1:30-3:00
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:45-10:45
Tuesdays 10:45-12:00
Tuesdays 10:45-12:00
Thursdays – 1:00-2:30 Art or Astronomy
To learn more about this unique opportunity, contact Paula Reif at 608-441-7894 or preif@rsvpdane.org.
Help older adults remain in their homes by delivering hot, nutritious meals. Drivers are needed in communities outside of Madison: Belleville, Fitchburg, DeForest, Oregon, McFarland, Middleton, NW Dane, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, SW Dane, Verona, and Waunakee. Mileage reimbursement and extra insurance are available. For more information, contact Steve Jaeschke at 608-441-7892 or sjaeschke@rsvpdane.org.
Help low-income, home-bound seniors by delivering groceries. Volunteers pick up pre-packed food boxes once a month from The River Food Pantry and deliver them to senior participants. Drivers receive mileage reimbursement and extra insurance. For more information, contact Steve Jaeschke at 608-441-7892 or sjaeschke@rsvpdane.org
Volunteers are needed to drive seniors to medical appointments. Hours are flexible; you will receive a call and can accept or decline the assignment. Mileage and extra insurance are available. This service is often key to older adults being able to remain in their homes. For more information, contact Steve Jaeschke at 608-441-7892 or sjaeschke@rsvpdane.org.
Use your talent to keep our community warm, safe and comforted by creating quilts, tote bags, hats, scarves, mittens, shawls, baby items and more! Materials are furnished, and items are donated to nonprofit and public organizations in Dane County. For more information, contact Julia Pierstorff at jpierstorff@rsvpdane.org or 608-310-7280.
Volunteers are needed to pick up unused food at stores and bakeries and deliver it to food pantries, repackage bulk food into family serving sizes, serve meals to seniors, and help guests register and select food at pantries. For more information, contact Jan Karst at jkarst@rsvpdane.org or 608-441-7891.
