Remember the recruiting sign with Uncle Sam pointing at the viewer that read "I WANT YOU!"?

In Newberry, it’s the same sentiment, but just a different scene.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program—better known as RSVP—hopes for volunteers 55 and older.

Newberry's RSVP program is now under Senior Resources and not the Newberry County Council on Aging.

Last year, when the Corporation for National Community Service put out the bid to non-profit organizations for RSVP, NCCOA decided not to place a bid because it wanted to focus more on transportation and meals.

However, Senior Resources did place a bid and therefore received the grant. The grant is for three years with one year already having passed.

Senior Resources has placed two RSVP staff members at the Newberry office. One is Becky Derrick, volunteer coordinator and the other is Genice Crumpton, program director. These women take turns one day a week—two if possible—coming to Newberry to coordinate plans for RSVP. Tuesdays are usually the day you will find one of them in the Newberry office.

Derrick, one of the coordinators, says that Newberry is in need of volunteers to work every day because of the many RSVP Volunteer Stations.

At the present time, there are only 150 RSVP volunteers, all of which already have assignments.

Some of the RSVP Volunteer Stations are J.F. Hawkins Nursing Home/Springfield Place, Janet Long Residential Care, Newberry County Sheriffs Department, The Baker Center in Whitmire and the Waldrop Senior Center.

And don't forget the Meals on Wheels. In addition to those mentioned, there are many more stations.

To be an RSVP volunteer, you need to be 55 and older and willing to work and go out into the field. Volunteers are covered by insurance if injured from the time they leave home until they return home. There is also a life insurance policy for volunteers.

The hours volunteers work are tracked and at the end of each year volunteers are recognized for their service.

Monday through Friday you might visit the Dave Waldrop Senior Center and see many volunteers at work as well as a room full of people—oftentimes there are as many as 75 in the dining room.

Reba Lester, a volunteer for six years, may be seen presenting a program or calling out names for lunch.

Dot Merchant, a volunteer since 1988, or Christine Dennis may be found handing out lunch trays to those who are unable to stand in line.

Catherine Blair and Joan Smith may be pouring tea. However, Blair is oftentimes busy getting ready to deliver Meals on Wheels.

Charlie Altman is there to say the blessing everyday before lunch is served and also call bingo.

You'll also find Henrietta Shealy, an RSVP volunteer for The Lydia Project, which helps people with cancer. In the kitchen you'll see the hustle and bustle of the volunteers making preparations to serve lunch.

So much is going on in the Dave Waldrop Senior Center at lunchtime with busy volunteers and lots of fellowship.

In addition to the business of the center, there are also volunteers out on the roads delivering Meals on Wheels. Georgette Livingston and Pat Kelly are two ladies that deliver 19 meals every Tuesday and have been doing so for over two years and enjoy doing it.

Livingston says you get attached to the people to whom you deliver the meals and, that of course, they become attached to you.

The RSVP shows the “power of we” working together to make a difference, says Derrick.

There is so much more that could be written about RSVP. To answer RSVP's call to volunteer and be a part of that “we” Derrick describes, visit the Dave Waldrop Senior Center or contact Genice Crumpton or Becky Derrick 252-7734 or gcrumpton@seniorresourcesinc.org or rsvpcoordinator@seniorresourcesinc.org.

You may also call the Newberry County Council Office on Aging at 276-8266.