WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) praised the Senate’s passage of their bipartisan resolution (S.Res.483) declaring this week (April 29 – May 5, 2018) “National Senior Corps Week” in recognition of the contributions of the more than 220,000 senior volunteers across the country.
“Senior Corp volunteers give back to our communities, making a positive, personal impact on many,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We thank them, recognizing the good they do.”
“This week we honor the hundreds of thousands of seniors across the nation, including thousands of in Rhode Island, who want to make our nation a better place,” said Whitehouse. “Investing in programs like Senior Corps strengthens our communities and gives seniors the opportunity to stay healthy and productive.”
Senior Corps volunteers dedicate over 50 million hours of service each year at more than 25,000 nonprofit, educational, and faith-based organizations nationwide. Corps volunteers help communities recover from natural and manmade disasters, provide nutrition services, mentor and tutor schoolchildren, support veterans and military families, and provide relief for caregivers. In turn, volunteering helps keep seniors healthy and engaged in the community. Senior Corps, which includes the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companions programs, is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
The full text of the senators’ resolution is below.
Recognizing the contributions of senior volunteers and designating the week of April 29 through May 5, 2018, as “National Senior Corps Week”.
Whereas volunteers in the United States who are 55 years of age and older (referred to in this preamble as “senior volunteers”) provide much-needed services to their communities, neighbors, and friends;
Whereas Senior Corps, through the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, provides meaningful opportunities to 220,000 senior volunteers and recruits thousands of additional community volunteers;
Whereas, for more than 5 decades, RSVP volunteers, Foster Grandparents, and Senior Companions have played an important role in strengthening communities by contributing their experience, knowledge, and accomplishments in order to—
(1) help their neighbors recover from natural and manmade disasters;
(2) provide nutrition services;
(3) mentor and tutor schoolchildren;
(4) support veterans and military families; and
(5) provide respite care to caregivers;
Whereas, in 2017, Senior Corps volunteers provided 54,000,000 hours of direct service through more than 25,000 nonprofit, educational, and faith-based community groups nationwide;
Whereas structured volunteering by senior volunteers—
(1) keeps those senior volunteers active, healthy, and engaged;
(2) helps the United States by saving taxpayer dollars and reducing health care costs; and
(3) supports the ability of seniors to live independent and productive lives;
Whereas the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs have proven to be cost-effective ways to engage senior volunteers in service that meets pressing community needs;
Whereas the United States should expand senior volunteer service opportunities to take advantage of the talents and experiences of the 10,000 baby boomers who will retire each day for the next 20 years; and
Whereas, at a time of mounting social need and growing interest in service by older individuals in the United States, the United States has an unprecedented opportunity to harness the talents of senior volunteers to address community challenges: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) designates the week of April 29 through May 5, 2018, as “National Senior Corps Week”; and
(2) encourages the people of the United States to recognize the contributions of senior volunteers and join in the celebration of National Senior Corps Week.