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What’s in a Number?


Every day we encounter numbers, lots and lots of numbers. From the date on our calendars to the mileage odometer in our cars we see numbers daily. Some numbers make us smile such as the Christmas countdown my coworker Angie Williams keeps. Angie is great at keeping a countdown to Christmas. As the Christmas Basket Coordinator, it is essential for her to track but secretly between you and me she LOVES Christmas!!
Numbers are part of life, but we often overlook their significance. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program has lots of numbers that are important to us and to our community. Like the number 42, this is the number of years Dove, Inc. has sponsored the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, a National Service Program that serves others in our community. Or the number 10, did you know that 10% of our active volunteers are Veterans who served our country. We also have 76, which is the average age of volunteers who performed volunteer hours this last fiscal year. We have significant numbers too such as 354, the number of volunteers who submitted their hours to us to record. From that, we have 256, which is the number of volunteers who volunteer at two or more stations during the last year.
The Independent Sector values a volunteer’s time at $26.02 per hour served, which gives our program a value of 1.6 million dollars of services in the community that volunteers performed, and that’s just the hours we captured from those who have enrolled in our program. This does not count the active volunteers under the age of 55 who are volunteering in their community or those above 55 who have not yet enrolled in RSVP.  Our program goal is to keep those 55 plus healthy, active, and engaged in their community by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities. There are volunteer opportunities that harness their expertise, talent, and passion for giving back to others in the community.   90 is the number of partner stations one can choose when volunteering in the community. You pick where, when, and how often you would like to serve.
1963, this number represents the birth year for all people who will turn 55 this year and become eligible to join our National Service Program. Is this your number?
Charlie Gillaspie
RSVP Director

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