RSVP Volunteers go to the Western Regional TRIAD Conference

On September 15th the Giles RSVP volunteers attended the Western Regional TRIAD Conference on Crime Prevention for Senior Citizens. Triad is a three pronged approach between law enforcement, senior citizens, and service providers to address crime prevention for seniors. The goal of TRIAD is to reduce the fear of crime and victimization among older Americans, increase awareness of scams and frauds targeting older citizens, strengthen communication between the law enforcement and senior communities, and educate older Americans on local and state resources that are available in their community. Today, Virginia has a total of 226 cities, counties, and towns with signed TRIAD agreements. Virginia TRIAD has also been recognized by the National Association of TRIADs, Inc. as having the highest number of active local groups nationwide and is the only state in the nation with a statewide coordinated office a the Executive Level of government.




Pictured Left to Right: Carol Adkins, Martha Sadler, Dan Level, Ann Lawson, and Pat Dennis

Left to Right: Captain Joe Shanks with the Giles Sheriffs Office, Pat Dennis, Martha Sadler, Ann Lawson, Carol Adkins.

This year the Western Regional TRIAD conference was held during the Roanoke Boomer and Senior Expo at the Roanoke Civic Center. Carol Adkins, Pat Dennis, Ann Lawson, Dan Level, and Martha Sadler attended. These individuals are all members of Giles RSVP and not currently active with TRIAD but wanted to learn more about the program and participate in the event. Giles TRIAD/SALT meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Giles Senior Center unless a special TRIAD activity is planned.

In the spirit of patriotism and remembrance Giles RSVP members serve their community on September 11th!

In honor of the men, women and children and all rescue service personnel and volunteers that lost their lives on September 11th 8 years ago the volunteers of the Giles Retired Senior Volunteer Program came together to hold a special day of service and remembrance project at the Giles Christian Mission.

Fourteen volunteer members of Giles RSVP provided a total of over 42 hours sorting, folding, organizing shoes, painting walls, staining racks, and changing over the inventory from summer to fall and winter. Those that participated were Barbara Bailey, Janice Cochran, Charlotte Hazelwood, Ann Lawson, Pat Laughlin, Sue Meredith, Joan Peek, JR Peek, Karen Pluth, Charlotte Sartin, Darlene Stafford, Lois Tabor, Marcia Zanetich and Peter Zanetich.

The Giles County Christian Mission in 2008 provided 479 families with 7,982 items and 106 family food boxes all given at no charge. From January to June of 2009 they assisted 1998 clients with free clothing, food boxes and items to help with basic needs. In addition they provided 15 families, a total of 76 people, 53 of those were children with healthy lunches during the month of June to help families while school was not in session.

Volunteers enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by the Mission to show their appreciation of this fabulous team effort! The day passed quickly with laughter and team work and the spirit of patriotism. We thank these and other members of Giles RSVP who served at various work sites during the day in helping your community and showing your patriotic spirit and observance.

Contact Chris to become a member of Giles RSVP and enjoy helping in the Giles communities.

Back to School Book Bag and Supply Project

Our RSVP Members will be helping to organize and sort donations received by NRCA for book bags and supplies on Wednesday August 26 in the NRCA Giles Area Office.

How can you take away some of the dread, fear and possible humiliation that a child may feel if they were to go to school without a book bag or school supplies? Donate a few note books, pencils, or rulers. I was in Dollar General last week and they have book bags for $7.00. It is estimated that a book bag with basic supplies cost around $25.00. If your budget will not allow you to donate items then help spread the word about the drive; talk with your family, friends, pastor or Sunday School, co-workers or neighbors.

NRCA has a list of children who will not have what they need to start school if we can't help.

We held a recruitment/Cultrual Heritage event on June 26th

Giles RSVP members and guests boarded the Giles County bus at the Giles Senior Center and traveled to Fairlawn, VA to the River and Company Restaurant. The group was seated on the patio that overlooked the New River for an enjoyable lunch. Volunteers discussed their volunteer work, travel and the reasons they love Virginia. After lunch they viewed from the upper level, the microbrewery that the restaurant is known for. The group returned to the bus and traveled to The Ingles Farm in Radford, VA their main destination. Upon arriving they were greeted by hosts Malcolm Whittaker and John Jeffries dressed in period costumes. Giles RSVP was treated with a private tour of the two story log cabin and farm as well as special presentations explaining how flax was grown, harvested, milled and used to make linen. Mr. Whittaker recounted how farmers served in the militia and displayed many of the items they carried with them. As a surprise to all when it came to the explaining musket ball making one volunteer shared that she had made musket balls from lead in the 1950's as a child. Apparently her older brother had a musket gun that used the lead musket balls. Interesting facts was retold and enjoyed by all. Mr. Jeffries family owns the Ingles Farm and is a descendant of the famous settler Mary Draper Ingles. Mr. Jeffres is in the process of bringing it to full operation as it was in the 18th century. Several events are held at the Ingles farm, their web site is http://www.inglesferry.com/ for more details and dates. This was a great opportunity to reward and encourage new and existing volunteers to be involved with the Giles RSVP Program. To learn more please call Chris Blankenship at 921-2037.

Another fundraising Effort

On June 19th Giles RSVP will hold a Brown Bean Dinner at the Pearisburgt Festival Around Town at 6:00 p.m.

Please plan to attend and bring your friends and family to the Festival and buy a bean dinner. 100% of the proceeds will go to help our program. The dinner will include bowl of beans, corn bread, desert, coffee or water.

Volunteers are needed to donate items for the sale, example: Large institutional size can of Bush Pinto Beans, Corn Bread Muffins, chopped onions, relish, and cake or brownies. Please contact Chris if you plan to donate food or to help at the sale. Set up for sale begins at 4:00 p.m. if you would like to help.

Fundraising for RSVP

Just letting you know that GRSVP members are placing and taking orders for Avon. The local rep. for Avon is giving us 50% of the proceeds! With Father's Day coming up there are many gifts for that special Dad. Summer sun screen, Skin-so-Soft, perfume, cosmetics and so much more. RSVP members who participate will receive a free hand cream plus their name will go into the drawing for a beautiful gift box of Avon items. Books are available in the Giles RSVP office. Place an order by June 12th, pick up your order on June 19th all at the RSVP office. Every order will help RSVP!

Recap of the last 6 months

Wow has it been 6 months! Each week I plan to update our blog to let you know how our volunteers are doing and the projects they are working on and how they are making an impact in the Giles Communities. Unfortunately this gets put on the bottom of the list as a priority. With volunteer hours to key in, data to compile and reports to send to New River Community Action and the State Corporation for National and Community Service, not to mention planning our volunteer activities, events and press releases time runs out before I know it. Don't fear our RSVP volunteers have been working very hard!

The recap of the past six months:
December found RSVP volunteers working with 3 Volunteers helping NRCA assistance services sort, organized toys and clothing to fill Angel Tree lists for children who are in economically challenged homes. Two GRSVP volunteers continued to assist with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for abused and neglected children in Giles County. As CASA volunteers they advocate for safe, permanent homes and serve as the eyes and ears for the judge on behalf of a child in need. They served 125 hours in December making it the second highest hours received at a worksite. The highest hours received was at the Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital - GRSVP baby boomer volunteer and President of the Hospital Auxiliary lead volunteers in the love light tree ceremony for families to remember loved ones who were patients of the hospital. Giles RSVP entered a Christmas tree in the first “Christmas Tree Contest” sponsored by the Pearisburg Bicentennial Committee. By having a Christmas tree on display it helped to bring awareness to the Giles Retired Senior Volunteer Program. The entry had a sign indicating it was by GRSVP and celebrating the season of giving back. A stead stream of Pearisburg residence visited the display and a special Town Council session recognized each tree entered and the winners of their category. A press release was also published in the Virginian Leader. There was no fee to enter and the event received great publicity and public relations. Giles RSVP’s tree won the category for “1800’s Christmas Tree” a $25.00 check was awarded to the program. Fifteen Giles RSVP volunteers stood in the cold, rain and wind to ring the donation bell for the Salvation Army in Giles County during the month of December. According to the salvation army donations received are used to help those in economic need through their office in Christiansburg.
January 2009 - The Giles RSVP’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Project “Warm Winter Coat Drive’” was a success! 68 coats were donated by RSVP members and the community to the Giles Christian Mission. Giles RSVP Volunteer Ann Lawson, called all RSVP volunteers to notify them of the” Warm Winter Coat Drive’ and asked them to ask others to donate coats. This volunteer sent emails, made phone calls to friends, neighbors, community leaders and RSVP members. GRSVP coordinated and marketed an educational session that was conducted by Senior Navigator at the Giles Senior Center, six RSVP volunteers attended. All seniors in Giles were welcome to attend. Senior Navigator is a web site that has useful information and links to find information that seniors and care givers are likely to seek.
February -Partnering with the Giles County Wellness and Senior Center a fun afternoon for volunteers was provided to encourage peer/social interaction and wellness through utilizing the counties Wii game system to offer a bowling tournament for seniors. Giles RSVP Volunteer Jerry Eaton assists the Eastern Elementary/Middle school each Friday to make popcorn and sell to the students. Jerry also volunteer’s with the American Cancer Society in coordinating the “Road to Recovery” volunteer drivers in Giles and surrounding counties. This program helps individuals get to their cancer treatments and medical appointments. He also volunteers with Giles TRIAD/SALT, NRCA, and CHIP.
March - Giles RSVP Advisory Council held March meeting, new members are Stephanie Spencer, Volunteer Coordinator with Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital and Douglas Whittaker, Giles RSVP member. The Council reviewed the by-laws and made recommendations. The Council also decided to relinquish the Senior Lifestyle Expo due to lack of community participation and return on investment. Giles County Senior Programs have requested to hold the event in the future. In obtaining community support the Council has decided to hold a bean supper on Friday May 19th at the Pearisburg Festival Around Town and another bean supper in the fall, date to be determined. Ann Lawson called and emailed RSVP volunteers to attend the Giles RSVP sponsored Computer class for Giles County Seniors. Mrs. Lawson assists the Virginia Tech Computer Science students during the class working with the other seniors to explain basic computer applications. The spring class began March. Giles RSVP Director coordinated and collaboration efforts with the Giles Sheriff’s Office and the Giles Senior Center to hold the Giles TRIAD/SALT presentation of “Keeping Senior Safe” the Giles County Sheriff’s Office did a wonderful presentation about local scams and fraud that seniors need to look out for. Giles RSVP volunteers and staff called RSVP members, emailed members of the community, put up fliers about the forum to attract seniors to attend. Twenty one attended.
April -Partnering with the Town of Rich Creek Public Library , 6 RSVP volunteers served 24 hours in helping the Library to get up and running after a major renovation. RSVP volunteers organized labeled and moved books to shelves. Sandra Spangler assisted the First Christian Church with preparing the summer camp grounds for the many different camps that are held for special needs children during the summer. Sandra served 60 hours painting, cleaning, repairing furniture, grounds keeping. In celebrating volunteers for National Volunteer Week (April 19 to April 25) RSVP volunteers were invited to attend the Giles RSVP Appreciation Tea at the Historic Andrew Johnston House. Guest speaker Malcolm Whittaker dressed in period 1800 costume entertained and educated the volunteers about the history of tea in the America’s. Sassafras tea was served in the dinning room where each volunteer received a lapel pin and choose a gift of their choice out of the gift bag.
May - Giles RSVP Director was welcomed by the Rich Creek Lions Club and the Triangle Ruitan Club to talk about and provide information on what the Retired Senior Volunteer Program does to help communities and how seniors can become involved. RSVP Volunteers assisted the Giles Historical Society with the Living History Days that was celebrated. Marcia and Pete Zanetich attended the Pembroke Emergency Preparedness Fair to demonstrate how to develop a home emergency kit. They also handed out checklists and planning forms for individuals and families to take home and start their own kit.