Letter to the Editor: RSVP is alive in well in Jasper County!

RSVP stands for Retired Senior Volunteer program. We have more than 120 members who donate thousands of hours back into the community. Shoutout to all our amazing volunteers!

We prepare taxes at no-cost for qualifying clients. We greet you at the hospital or comfort you at the cancer clinic. We read with students in the schools; we write pen pal letters; we are at Head Start preschool. We are at the Jasper County Historical Museum, the Jasper Genealogical Society, and at local thrift stores. We assist at Jasper County Elderly Nutrition, sing at local care centers and help monitor the emergency sirens. And, we offer a service called Jasper County RIDE that provides free transportation to medical appointments.

Jasper County RIDE is a no-cost, vital service that helps our community regain health, sustain health and age-in-place longer. We take clients to out-of-town appointments as well as in-town. We have a record high 171 clients — which is great! However…we only have 22 volunteer drivers. These drivers are amazing folks who not only transport people to medical care, but they offer conversation, sometimes calm nerves and provide support for our clients.

We need more Jasper County RIDE drivers to help us meet the need for medical transportation in Jasper County. If you are 55 or older, have a valid driver’s license and enjoy helping others — then this may be the program for you!

Interested? Stop into the Iowa State Extension Office in the southeast corner of the DMACC Building — that’s where we are located: 550 N. Second Ave. E. in Newton, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. to noon. Or pick up a packet to become an RSVP member and Ride Driver — it’s free to join! Or chat with us about becoming a RIDE driver and the other volunteer opportunities we have at RSVP. Call the Extension office and ask for Sarah or Jasmine at 641-792-6433. Volunteering is good for the mind, body and soul. Consider joining us!

Sarah Patterson

Newton