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 Karst at jkarst@rsvpdane.org or call 608-441-7891.
Ronald McDonald House needs Family Room Volunteers inside SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital. Help provide a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment for families with children receiving medical care. The Family Room offers a quiet place for families to rest, recharge, and access comfort items just steps away from their child’s care area. Volunteers assist with day-to-day operations such as making beds, welcoming guests, turning over bedrooms, maintaining and tidying common areas, giving tours, re-stocking food and supplies, and helping ensure the space remains clean, calm, and inviting.
At this time, we are seeking to onboard volunteers who are already part of the SSM Health volunteer system. These volunteers are already trained and onboarded with the hospital and will receive a brief orientation to the Ronald McDonald House Family Room and its specific guidelines and expectations. We are trying to fill several Saturday morning shifts from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and are also looking for sub-volunteers to help out with occasional weekday afternoons from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Neighborhood House Community Center would like volunteers to help with a weekly drop-in program for older adults. The program meets from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Mondays of each month. You can help by greeting, serving coffee, and chatting with guests, while creating social connection and a sense of belonging to decrease loneliness and isolation for older adults!
Henry Vilas Zoo is gearing up for a busy summer season! Volunteers are needed to help with gardening around the Zoo and grazing area for the animals! Join a weekly Gardening Work Group of fun volunteers on Thursdays from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. to help maintain the gardens.
Train and Carousel Volunteers are also needed to keep the children’s train and carousel running! Shifts are mostly afternoons, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. Gate Greeters are needed to work shifts Thursdays to Sundays from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Textile Art Center of Madison needs volunteers to sort incoming fiber art donations, support sales and other special events, aid workshops, and more! Sign up for our volunteer orientation to get involved and join a wonderful community of textile enthusiasts and makers.
PBS Wisconsin needs volunteers to help keep the “public” in public television! You can help by volunteering for 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 the rights of residents in nursing homes. Volunteers visit designated long term care settings on a weekly basis to observe, listen to, and interact with the residents. They work with residents and their family members to communicate concerns and complaints by providing support and empowerment to resolve issues. Ongoing training and support are provided.
Operation Fresh Start empowers emerging adults on a path to self-sufficiency through education, mentoring, and employment training. They are looking for volunteers to work at the front desk/reception area to greet visitors and maintain sign-in sheets, answer phone calls and take messages, open the front door via remote button behind the desk, and other light clerical duties. Shifts are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 3:00 – 5:15 p.m. at their office on Milwaukee St. in Madison.
St Vincent’s Food Pantry needs more volunteers to help sort and shelve produce in the mornings from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. They also have shifts for Client Greeters, Online Order Fillers, Outside Food Loaders, and Cart Re-loading and Running. 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 many other social services and resources in Dane County. Volunteers are needed to help with shifts in the Food Pantry and with picking up and delivering donated food from stores and businesses in the area.
SSM St Mary’s Hospital needs volunteers who can offer a caring presence and support to help with various programs:
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
Construction – Oregon
Please contact Jan Karst, RSVP Volunteer Programs Community Connections Coordinator, for more information about these Volunteer Opportunities at jkarst@rsvpdane.org or (608) 441-7891
We need volunteer Trainers and for our Senior Planet in-person tech skills classes. As the importance of computers, smartphones and the internet increase in importance in our society, many older adults are being left out, unable to remain connected and comfortable using their electronic devices. Many seniors are being exploited by scammers and fraudsters. Senior Planet Trainers lead and assist with tech skills classes and thus help other older adults become better, safer users of their devices. To learn more about becoming a volunteer Senior Planet Trainer, please email the Triad Coordinator at triadcoordinator@rsvpdane.org.
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.
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. 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.
