Volunteer Network of Mendocino County Programs Header

The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) offers those volunteers who are 55 or older an excellent opportunity to use their life experiences and skills to make a difference in the lives of others by volunteering in their communities.  More than 600 RSVP Volunteers serve in approximately 20 agencies and institutions in Lake and Mendocino counties.  These volunteers are committed to their communities. RSVP volunteers make differences in their communities by providing support for nonprofit agencies, schools, police departments, feeding the hungry and more. Among the various programs RSVP staffs are Middletown Senior Citizens, Inc., Hospice Services of Lake County, Clearlake Oaks Senior Center, City of Clearlake Community Patrol, Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Lakeport Senior Center, and Highlands Senior Center. 

The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) serve as mentors, tutors, and caregivers for at-risk children and youth with special needs through a variety of community organizations, including schools, hospitals, drug treatment facilities, correctional institutions, and Head Start and day-care centers. In one year nationally Foster Grandparents have given 11, 000 teen parent’s advice on how to be a parent and how to keep their children healthy and safe.   The Foster Grandparent Program is open to people age 60 and over with limited incomes. All applicants undergo a background check and a telephone interview, as well as pre-service and in-service training. Foster Grandparents serve 20 hours a week.  There are currently 51 Foster Grandparents in Lake and Mendocino Counties .

The Senior Companions Program (SCP) volunteers serve one-on-one with the frail elderly and other homebound persons who have difficulty completing everyday tasks. They assist with grocery shopping, bill paying, and transportation to medical appointments, and they alert doctors and family members to potential problems. Senior Companions also provide short periods of relief to primary caregivers. Because of the program, thousands of citizens are able to live with dignity in their own homes.

Community Emergency Response Program-CERT Trainings (CERT) is a program that provides emergency training to Mendocino County  to enhance communities strengthening the ties between business, government and citizens and will lead to a better-prepared community that can sustain itself during times of disaster. To become a CERT member you must attend 16 hours of training.  These training classes include disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue operations.  This training is extremely valuable.

The Human Race Mendocino County's Largest Collaborative Community Fundraiser  The Human Race is a County wide fundraiser that all non-profit organizations can participate in to raise money for their organization or group.  The event is a 3k/10 k walk or run through the City of Ukiah .  Organizations and Businesses recruit walkers/runners, and then pledges are gatherd to raise money for their favorite organization.  So, if someone wanted to put together a team for their students Class Room, they would gather people and form a team.  Those teams would go out and get pledges and 75% of those pledges would go to that class room.  Mendocino County held it's first successful Human Race last year raising over $70,000 for non-profits. 

The Gardens Project-Building community one garden at a time!