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, contact Jan Karst at jkarst@rsvpdane.org or 608-441-7891.
NATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION works to save lands and preserves around Wisconsin. They need volunteers to help with various office duties such as mailings, simple data entry, and some computer research projects.
OPERATION FRESH START (education, mentoring, and employment training) is 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 3:00-5:15pm at their office on Milwaukee St. in Madison.
OAKWOOD NATURE PRESERVE on Mineral Point Road is looking for helpers to pull weeds in wooded areas around Oakwood Village. Volunteers work with one of their committee members to identify, pull, and dispose of weeds such as garlic mustard.
STEENBOCK CENTER, Wisconsin Academy of the Arts, Science, and Letters on University Avenue needs Gardening Volunteers to help maintain the gardens and to help keep their grounds well cared for and welcoming! If you like weeding, digging, planting, working with your hands, and being creative, this job is for you!
HENRY VILAS ZOO is ready for volunteers to help with the zoo train and carousel! They would also like to have Gate Greeters to welcome visitors!
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE needs volunteers interested in helping on weeknight evening shifts and weekend shifts.
LITERACY NETWORK is seeking volunteer tutors to help support adult students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their literacy goals! Training and ongoing support is provided.
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER needs volunteers to help host their Memory Café – a social gathering for anyone with memory loss or dementia. They meet on the 3rd Mondays of each month from 11am-12:30pm followed by a Healthy Living Luncheon which is ‘lunch and learn’ and discussion of health topics. Volunteers can help with setup at 10:30am, welcome guests, engage attendees in conversation, and help with serving snacks/meals, and clean up. Volunteers can assist where they feel comfortable.
Volunteers are also needed for the Connections program on Thursdays from 10am-12pm. Connections is a casual drop-in program for older adults (age 50 plus). Volunteers would prepare coffee and set up the Community Room to welcome guests, engage in conversation, play games or cards, or any other casual connection.
CATHOLIC MULTICULTURAL CENTER needs help delivering fresh and healthy food to local schools! Their Culinary Creations Catering enterprise delivers catering orders prepared by trainees and staff to four area schools each weekday. Volunteers are asked to sign up for a weekly shift one day a week. You will be driving the catering van, so it is not necessary to have your own vehicle. All you need are good driving skills and the ability to do moderate lifting (15-20 lbs.).
BADGER PRAIRIE NEEDS NETWORK is a resource center in Verona, run entirely 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 picking up and delivering donated food from stores and businesses in the area.
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
Construction – Oregon
SOCIAL JUSTICE CENTER on Williamson St. connects people with needed resources such as food, housing, and other essential living services. They need volunteers to help with their food pantry and information desk.
BRAILLE LIBRARY AND TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES is gearing up for their Fall training to become volunteer transcribers and prepare and provide books in braille. You can learn to turn print into braille! All transcribers take a one-year braille transcription course that consists of weekly classes and culminates in certification by the Library of Congress.
WHEELS FOR WINNERS is an earn-a-bike program that rehabs used bikes and offers them to participants who earn them through community service. You can help clean and fix bikes and see the smiles on kids’ faces when they earn a bike and helmet!
ALDO LEOPOLD NATURE CENTER needs dedicated volunteers at their reception desk to engage with visitors, assist community members in person and via phone and email, and perform administrative tasks. Weekday and weekend shifts are available!
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK needs help sorting, labeling and packing food into family friendly portions for distribution. Volunteer projects are well-organized, safe, and led by wonderful staff members! Shifts are flexible and easy to sign up for!
ST VINCENT’S FOOD PANTRY needs more volunteers to help 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 Re-loading and Running. The need for food resources has increased and many volunteers are needed to keep the Pantry running.
FRIENDS OF SCHUMACHER FARM PARK in Waunakee has volunteer opportunities available for those interested in gardening, prairie restoration, event planning, and educational tours of the historic farmhouse and buildings
SSM ST MARYS HOSPITAL needs help with their At Your Service program (escorting patients and families, delivering belongings, etc.), Patient Registration (welcoming patients and escorting them to their destination), Surgical Waiting Area supporting families while their loved one is in surgery, offering caring presence and support through touch and conversation.
AGRACE HOSPICE CARE has Kitchen Volunteer opportunities including Small Batch Baker, Café Cashier, Nutrition Center Stocking, Soup Brigade, and Kitchen Prep to assist the Kitchen Team with small prep and recipe work! It’s a great place to use your kitchen and cooking skills.
Please contact Jan Karst, RSVP Community Connections Program Coordinator, for more information about these Volunteer Opportunities at jkarst@rsvpdane.org or (608) 441-7891.
Our Triad Program needs volunteers to help plan monthly safety education events, write and edit the Triad Newsletter, plan the annual Triad Conference and 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 would enjoy writing safety and healthy living articles and planning safety events, please email the Triad Coordinator at triadcoordinator@rsvpdane.org.
We need volunteer Trainers and for our Senior Planet 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.
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.
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.
