The latest RSVP news just for you

RSVP Newsletter

Inside this edition:

From Jan’s desk
Volunteering during pandemic
GRAB N GO
Scam alert

From Jan’s desk …

Dear Friends,

Did you know that Senior Corps is a network of national service programs for Americans 55 years and older? It is made up of three primary programs that each take a different approach to improving lives and fostering civic engagement. And ...

RSVP is one of them!

As Senior Corps celebrates May as Older Americans Month, RSVP volunteers are continuing to make a difference in our community.

Thank you for being a member of RSVP and willing to commit your time to address critical community needs, particularly during these challenging times.

Our volunteers have been practicing social distancing, wearing masks and gloves and sorting and bagging food at the food pantries; driving meals and groceries to the homebound; driving people to essential services, such as the bank and grocery stores; using the telephone and computer technology, such as Zoom, to tutor students; using the telephone to connect with folks wishing to have friendly conversations; and helping agencies with clerical tasks on their computers at home.

Read on for a story from an RSVP volunteer who explains how he has found balance in his retirement years during the pandemic.

And remember, if you are looking for community resources, check out United Way’s Give Help Get Help hub here .

Volunteering during a pandemic

By Jeff Zdrale

Since the “stay at home” order, I’ve stopped taking afternoon naps. It’s odd. You’d think that, with all this open time at home, I’d be trying to take up some of it by sleeping. Hasn’t happened. I think the big changes in my volunteering schedule had something to do with it.

Before the shutdown, I usually drove to a volunteer site every week day. On Mondays, I was an interviewer at LEAVEN. Tuesdays, I had the same job at the St. Joseph Food Program. Wednesdays had me teaching my grammar group and doing individual tutoring at Fox Valley Literacy.

On Thursdays, I ran a painting class at Friendship Place. Fridays I kept unscheduled to do things like leading tour groups at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass or subbing at one of my other assignments.

For the weekends, church was on the agenda. I direct my church choir and we have vespers on Saturday evenings and the liturgy on Sunday mornings. All closed up now.

With that schedule, I’d usually get a wave of tiredness in the early afternoon. I’d tell my wife, “I’m going up to rest my eyes for a few minutes.” Those few minutes often morphed into an hour or, sometimes, more. I was just pooped.

So when everything came to a halt, I wondered…what am I going to do with myself? Sleep the whole day away? Well, it’s turned out that I didn’t have to become a total couch potato. The phone and ZOOM came to the rescue. To read the entire story, click here .

GRAB N Go

Outagamie County Nutrition Program is offering an APPLETON GRAB N GO Meal and Shelf Stable Food Bag for pickup by Outagamie County residents age 60 and older, regardless of income, who live in Appleton, Grand Chute and the surrounding areas on Wednesdays at 11 a.m.

Eligible residents must call in their weekly meal order to 920-209-4175 by noon the Monday prior to the Wednesday 11 a.m. pickup and must complete a registration form that will be available on site.

If an Outagamie County resident 60 years and older is home bound and unable to participate in the GRAB N GO meal service, please call Outagamie County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 920-832-5178 to make a home delivered meal referral.

The next GRAB N GO Meal Service will be offered on Wednesday, May 20, at the following locations:

• The Grand Meridian in Appleton

• Hortonville Municipal Building

• Kaukauna Streets, Parks and Recreation (SPAR) Building

• Seymour Municipal Building

•Thompson Center on Lourdes

Beware of scams

We want to remind you of some COVID-19 scams that are targeting older adults:

Counterfeit Stimulus Checks: You might receive a fake check with a number to call for you to verify your information. Providing this information to them is simply a way for them to gain access to your checking account so they can take your money or use your personal information to secure credit cards and other documents.

IRS Scams: Someone calls you pretending to be from the IRS saying that they need your financial information in order for you to receive your stimulus check. Don’t fall for this! The IRS has told us that they will never call you unless they are returning your call. They will also not contact you via text message or on social media.

Fake COVID Vaccines/Test Kits: Someone might try to sell you test kits or other products that they say you can use to test for the virus or that will prevent the virus. These might be vaccines, pills with high doses of Vitamin C or some kind of air filter system that they say will remove COVID-19 from the air in your home. There is no cure or vaccine for this virus and testing is only available from your medical professional or through your local and state governments. And, none of these are delivered to your house.

Errands-Grocery-shopping/Medication Pick-up: Be careful of someone you don’t know calling to offer to run errands for you such as grocery shopping and picking up medications or other supplies. These individuals will take your cash and never be seen again, leaving you empty-handed.

Scams Targeting Your Social Security Benefits: Someone is calling you to say that, due to COVID-19, your Social Security benefits will be decreased or suspended unless you provide personal information or send them money to maintain regular benefit payments during this period. Whether by text, email or letter, any communication saying that you will not receive your benefits due to COVID-19 is a scam.

Online Shopping : Many of us are now going online to buy groceries, medical masks and cleaning supplies. Be sure to purchase these goods directly from an established store or internet service that offers contactless delivery. Some others may not even have the goods that you’re trying to order. Do not include this as a link, just list like the others.

Person in Need Scams: This is a variation of the grandchild scam. Someone might contact you claiming to be a grandchild, friend, or relative who is ill or stranded someplace and needs for you to send them money. They might also ask you to keep it a secret. Hang up and call the person they’re pretending to be to see if they are okay. Do not send money unless you are sure their story checks out.

Census Scam: Census scammers may contact you by phone, email, regular mail or visit you seeking your personal and financial information. They may also tell you that this information is required before you can receive your stimulus check. Real Census workers will never ask for financial information and receiving your stimulus check is not connected with completing the Census.

Volunteer Fox Cities

2616 S.Oneida St. Suite 2

rsvp@volunteerfoxcities.org

Volunteerfoxcities.org