Seniors In Service Of Tampa Bay Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY CHALLENGES BY ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS AGED 55+. WE HELP AT-RISK CHILDREN, ELDERS, ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, CAREGIVERS, & VETERANS. OUR VOLUNTEERS BENEFIT FROM STAYING ACTIVE & LIVING WITH SENSE OF PURPOSE.

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM: HELPS AT-RISK CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL WITH INTENSIVE, IN-CLASS TUTORING AND MENTORING PROVIDED BY HIGHLY-TRAINED, CULTURALLY RELEVANT VOLUNTEERS. EACH YEAR WE HELP PRESCHOOLERS DEVELOP SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS AND STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 3RD GRADE IMPROVE LITERACY AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS. WE SERVE IN TITLE I SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN FACE POVERTY AND OTHER LIFE CHALLENGES THAT JEOPARDIZE THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. TEACHERS ASSESS EACH CHILD'S CHALLENGE AREAS AND CREATE CHILD CARE PLANS TO GUIDE VOLUNTEERS IN ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING. DURING THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR OUR VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED DAILY MENTORING TO 3,100 PRE-K THROUGH 3RD GRADERS AND ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING TO 1,100 STUDENTS SELECTED BY THEIR TEACHER AS MOST CHALLENGED. WE ENGAGED 202 FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED 192,604 VOLUNTEER HOURS. AT LEAST 96% OF CHILDREN SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SPECIFIC CHALLENGE AREAS - AS EVALUATED BY THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, NOT BY SENIORS IN SERVICE!

SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM: PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT FOR HOMEBOUND ELDERS, ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, CAREGIVERS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING. CLIENTS ARE LOW-INCOME & LACK SUPPORT FROM FAMILY/FRIENDS. THEY RECEIVE IN-HOME COMPANIONSHIP, HOMEMAKER SERVICES, RESPITE AND A WATCHFUL EYE IN CASE THEY NEED EXTRA CARE - ALL AT NO COST TO THEM. PROGRAM STAFF IDENTIFY CLIENT NEEDS BASED ON ABILITY TO COMPLETE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (ADL'S). CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE MATCHED BASED ON NEEDS, CULTURE, SKILLS. VOLUNTEERS HELP WITH ERRANDS/CHORES, SHARE HEALTH/SAFETY INFORMATION, ENGAGE IN MENTALLY STIMULATING CONVERSATION/GAMES, COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILIES/CASE MANAGERS, & ENGAGE OTHER AGENCIES AS NEEDED. WITH THIS SUPPORT, CLIENTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO NEED COSTLY INSTITUTIONALIZATION. BOTH CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS BENEFIT FROM INCREASED SOCIAL CONNECTION. IN 2021 WE HELPED 205 CLIENTS WITH 59 SENIOR COMPANION VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED OVER 46,141 VOLUNTEER HOURS.

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP): MATCHES PEOPLE AGED 55+ TO THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY OF THEIR DREAMS. WE PARTNER WITH HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS, STRATEGICALLY MATCHING EACH VOLUNTEER TO USE SKILLS THEY'VE GAINED OVER THE YEARS OR TO DEVELOP NEW ONES. OUR MOTTO IS: "GOT AN HOUR? GIVE AN HOUR!" FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE: 1) ELDER SERVICES - E.G. SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY RECREATION ACTIVITIES AND HEALTH EDUCATION; 2) HUNGER RELIEF SERVICES - E.G. FOOD DISTRIBUTION/DELIVERY; 3) EDUCATION SERVICES - E.G. TUTORING; 4) NON-PROFIT CAPACITY BUILDING. IN 2021 WE ENGAGED 747 VOLUNTEERS AGED 55+ WHO SERVED 79,801 HOURS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

OPERATION VETERAN CONNECT (OVC): ENGAGES AMERICORPS MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION'S WHOLE HEALTH INITIATIVE BY ASSISTING IN DEVELOPING WELLNESS PLANS AND SUPPORTING THEM IN ACCESSING WELLNESS AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES AT TWO VA HEALTH FACILITIES IN FLORIDA. IN 2021 WE ENGAGED 48 VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED 10,781 HOURS TO HELP LOCAL VETERANS.