President George W. Bush eloquently spoke to our nation recently with a speech containing a stirring call for volunteers. He especially mentioned volunteers of the Senior Corps, which encompasses the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. His words, in part, were: “We are a different country than we were on September the 10th -- sadder and less innocent; stronger and more united; and in the face of ongoing threats, determined and courageous.
 
After September the 11th, our government assumed new responsibilities to strengthen security at home and track down our enemies abroad. And the American people are accepting new responsibilities as well. 
Many ask what can I do to help in our fight. The answer is simple. All of us can become a September the 11th volunteer by making a commitment to service in our own communities. So you can serve your country by tutoring or mentoring a child, comforting the afflicted, housing those in need of shelter and a home. You can participate in your Neighborhood Watch or Crime Stoppers. You can become a volunteer in a hospital, emergency medical, fire or rescue unit. You can support our troops in the field and, just as importantly, support their families here at home, by becoming active in the USO or groups and communities near our military installations.
 
We also will encourage service to country by creating new opportunities within the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs for public safety and public health efforts. Too many have the wrong idea of Americans as shallow, materialistic consumers who care only about getting rich or getting ahead. But this isn't the America I know. Ours is a wonderful nation, full of kind and loving people; people of faith who want freedom and opportunity for people everywhere. One way to defeat terrorism is to show the world the true values of America through the gathering momentum of a million acts of responsibility and decency and service.” 
 
Come join the RSVP and let us help you to become a “September the 11th volunteer”. Make a commitment to showing through your actions the wonderful spirit and generosity of our nation’s citizens right here in Lubbock, TX.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

CONTACT LUBBOCK has a couple of one-time volunteer opportunities that may be “right up your alley” this Christmas season. They are doing two fundraising endeavors for their teenage suicide prevention program. First of all, a couple of people are needed to make cookies and sell them in American State Bank lobbies. The cookies are pre-formed so that all you have to do is pop them in the oven at the bank for 18 minutes and sell them 2/$1.50. Don’t you think the bank’s employees and customers are going to flock to your area with that mouth-watering smell in the air? You may help from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the ASB 82nd and York location on Mon., Dec. 3rd; at 66th and Indiana on Tues., Dec. 4th; and 14th and Q on Friday, Dec. 14th. 
If you love to wrap gifts, think about helping CONTACT provide a wrapping service at Barnes & Noble from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2nd and/or Sunday, Dec. 9th, anytime from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 17th or anytime from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21. What a fun way to participate in a good cause!.

THE SALVATION ARMY, as always, has several Christmastime opportunities for volunteering. Help would be appreciated any day through December 15th at the South Plains Mall to man the Angel Tree display and assist people wishing to supply gifts for a child and they also will need volunteers to distribute Christmas food and Angel Tree gifts to families on December 18th, 19th and 20th at The Salvation Army offices, 1111 16th St. Just call their offices at 765-9434 to inquire about how you can help make this a season of joy for needy families in Lubbock.

HOW do I join RSVP?
Becoming a member of RSVP is simple as long as you are at least 55 and have some time to volunteer. Just call the office at 742-2423 and chat with Ronda Casey or Bonne Phillips about your interests. If you are not certain what you would like to do, we can mention several current volunteer opportunities and send you a list of the sort of jobs which RSVP members are presently doing to whet your appetite. If you have a special skill or talent that you would like to utilize, we will search to find just the right job for you. Just mail in the enrollment form (requires Adobe Reader) and we will call you!