Florham Park, NJ–Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey, through a three-year federal grant, now operates the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Center of Essex and Hudson Counties. RSVP matches volunteers age 55+ with local causes.
RSVP is America’s largest volunteer network for people 55+. Volunteers choose where to serve, how much time to give, and whether to share their skills or develop new ones. Some areas in greatest need of volunteer assistance include: food support, domestic violence victim assistance, disaster preparedness, and visiting seniors in their homes and helping them age in place. RSVP is a program of the Corporation of National and Community Service, a federal agency engaging over four million Americans annually.
To manage the RSVP Center, JFS MetroWest has hired two staff members. Stephanie Grove, a Licensed Social Worker is the Director. “I look forward to finding engaging volunteer opportunities for older adults in Essex and Hudson Counties,” Grove said. The new Hudson County Program Manager, Alexandra Nagy, LSW is bilingual.
“The grant from the National and Community Services Corporation is a big win for JFS and the community,” said Reuben D. Rotman, Executive Director of JFS MetroWest. “Through the RSVP Center of Essex and Hudson Counties, we can create a network of volunteers engaged in gratifying work while sharing valuable skills with the community.”
JFS MetroWest has its roots in mid-19th-century volunteer-led efforts organized around caring for orphans and the elderly and acquainting immigrants with their new communities. Since then, JFS MetroWest has continued to use trained volunteers to extend the reach of social work professionals. For more information please contact Ms. Grove at [email protected].
By Kimberly Colchamiro
