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WINSTON-SALEM — Love Community Development Corporation (LoveCDC) has announced it has received a RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) Senior Corps grant of $59,434 (85%) of total program funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service. This award will support 69 Senior Corps RSVP volunteers serving in Bethania, Clemmons, Kernersville, Lewisville, Rural Hall, Tobaccoville, Walkertown and Winston‐Salem as well as Danbury, King and Walnut Cove.

“LoveCDC is excited and very grateful to receive funding from CNCS,” says Pastor Angeline Sumpter, CEO of Love Community Development Corporation. “It will allow us to increase the much-needed services we currently provide community residents; i.e., COVID-19 supplies, our food pantry, transportation to medical appointments, dress for success clothing closet, bus passes and educational workshops.”

The funds were awarded as part of a 2020 Senior Corps grant competition to increase the impact of national service. Through Love Community Development Corporation Senior Corps volunteers (with a focus on education) will tutor and mentor disadvantaged youth in kindergarten through third grade. Volunteers (with a focus on healthy futures, independent living and aging in place) will perform activities providing access to services and/or resources such as companionship, nutrition and food support, respite care and transportation for adults who are homebound and older adults and individuals with disabilities to enable them to age in place. RSVP volunteers will also seek opportunities to address other community priority needs.

RSVP volunteers receive benefits including pre-service orientation, supplemental insurance while serving, training and on-going recognition.

If you are 55 years or older and interested in becoming an RSVP volunteer, contact Patricia Gilliam, RSVP director at 336-269-2762 or pgilliamlcdcrsvp@gmail.com. You may also contact Pastor Angeline Sumpter at 336-883-5175.

Today, Senior Corps engages approximately 200,000 Americans at more than 20,000 locations across the nation through its Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs. Established in 1971, RSVP engages Americans age 55 and older in citizen service that addresses the nation’s most-pressing challenges — everything from fighting the opioid epidemic, reducing crime and reviving cities, connecting veterans to jobs and benefits, preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs, ensuring seniors age independently and with dignity, and helping Americans rebuild their lives following a disaster.

While serving, Senior Corps volunteers also improve their own lives, staying active and healthy through service. A growing body of research points to mental and physical health benefits associated with volunteering, including lower mortality rates, increased strength and energy, decreased rates of depression, and fewer physical limitations. Findings from a recent CNCS study show that Senior Corps volunteers serving with the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs report feeling significantly less depressed and isolated, along with higher health scores.