Learn about national service volunteer programs connecting individuals with opportunities to serve communities through companionship, support services, and volunteer engagement.
OCWCOG’s Senior Companion Program recruits and matches volunteers with homebound seniors in Benton, Lincoln, and Linn counties. Volunteers provide long-term assistance, including companionship and help with activities such as transportation to medical appointments. This support helps older adults remain in their own homes for as long and as safely as possible.
Volunteer requirements include:
In partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, OCWCOG recruits and matches volunteers to children aged five to 18 in Benton, Lincoln, and Linn Counties to participate in its Foster Grandparent Program. The program is intergenerational, providing volunteers age 55 and over the opportunity to mentor, nurture, and support children with special or exceptional needs, or who are at an academic, social, or financial disadvantage. OCWCOG leverages the skills of Foster Grandparents to improve school readiness and help children gain academic confidence to excel in school. The Foster Grandparent Program is funded in part by the Early Learning Hub of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties.
Volunteer requirements include:
Volunteers receive a tax-exempt stipend and mileage reimbursement.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is America’s largest volunteer network for people age 55 and over. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in OCWCOG’s RSVP program choose how, where, and how often they want to serve. Volunteers receive supplemental insurance while on duty and may be eligible for a mileage reimbursement to their volunteer site. Volunteer opportunities include food pantries, advocacy, Medicare counseling, money management, meal delivery, reading with youth, tax preparation, cleaners, and more. OCWCOG administers RSVP, in partnership with AmeriCorps Seniors.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteering and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency invests more than $800 million in grants for local nonprofit, community, tribal, and state organizations; places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-tern, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
