 
America's volunteers are America's leaders. They stand up to make a difference in the quality and strength of their communities.
Volunteers make an impact every day, by:
- Offering disaster relief to victims
- Conducting safety patrols for local police
- Building houses and planning community gardens
- Helping to get children immunized
- Tutoring children in reading and math
- Mentoring troubled teens and young mothers
- Caring for infants and children with physical disabilities
- Offering emotional support to child victims of abuse and neglect
- Providing assistance and companionship to isolated seniors
- And so much more
Live the volunteer experience. The personal rewards are priceless.
Volunteers describe their experiences helping others as "important," "uplifting," and "gratifying." Here are some examples of volunteers who feel good knowing they are using their time to help someone in need.
Dr. Donald Allcorn
Dr. Donald Allcorn is a retired physician who serves with the Pettis-Saline Counties RSVP in Sedalia, Missouri. He volunteers at the Community Free Clinic, which serves those without medical insurance, many of whom work for small companies that do not provide insurance benefits and pay the minimum wage. He usually sees 30 to 40 patients each session, working far into the evening. Dr. Allcorn also donated his former clinic building free of charge to the Free Clinic, serves as medical director, secures other volunteer staffing for the facility, and arranges referrals to other doctors when specialized care is required.
Delores Marie "Gus" Eash
Delores Eash is a retired Registered Nurse who serves with the RSVP of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She also serves with the American Red Cross as an RN on their State and National Disaster teams, which has taken her to the Caribbean and to Louisiana in times of hurricanes and floods. On September 11 she was alerted to prepare for an assignment in New York City. She reports: "I was stationed in a service center two blocks from ground zero. I felt that it was sacred ground. I stayed 10 days helping victims regain lost medicines/new medicines and any other medical supplies." With the RSVP of Fort Wayne, Gus Eash implemented an "Angel Cakes" program that delivers birthday cakes to forgotten children.
Louise Jackson
Ms. Jackson, a Foster Grandparent in the District of Columbia, has spent a lifetime devoted to helping others in need. Prior to turning age 60, she was a volunteer for the United Planning Organization, the original sponsor of the Foster Grandparent Program in the District. She has helped raise 30 non-related children, her 35 grandchildren and many more great grandchildren. Ms. Jackson retired from a 28-year career with the D.C. Superior Court where she now volunteers. As a volunteer, she works with adjudicated youth in child abuse cases and with the responsibility of trying to keep the family unit together. Often, that means finding food, clothing, shelter, providing respite, and teaching parents life skills and non-violent parenting skills.
John McConnell
John McConnell moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1990 after retiring from his position as a physicist from the Los Alamos National Laboratories in New Mexico. Since retiring and joining RSVP, he has devoted his life to education and youth. At his own expense, John developed hands-on science demonstrations for school children and made presentations at schools in the Grand Junction area. His project grew, reaching more than 5,000 children each year with the message that "math and science are cool." In 1998, Mr. McConnell received the "Education Hero Award" from the U.S. Department of Education and has been a two-time recipient of the Colorado Cares Day Volunteer Service Award.
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