The “Check Out Hunger” food drive for the Community Food Bank of Barton County was a huge success. RSVP volunteers partnered with 6th grade students from Holy Family School, a local Brownie troop, and Barton County Youth Care manned tables at Dillon’s on 10th Street and Walmart on Saturday, April 6th. Persons entering the stores received a handout about the Community Food Bank with a grocery list of needed items.  The volunteers collected 1,749 lbs of food and $487 in cash donations that day because of the generosity of our community.
On April 27, Volunteers in Action sponsored a fund-raiser for the Ellinwood Food Bank at the Ellinwood City-Wide Garage Sale. Krispy Kreme doughnuts and coffee were sold for almost $300 to be used by the Ellinwood Food Bank to supplement food donations. We are in the process of developing fund-raisers for the food banks in Hoisington and Larned as well.
During the summer months, Volunteers in Action coordinator Linn Hogg will be working on marketing the program and recruiting volunteers. If you know of a civic or church group that needs a program, please call Linn at 792-1614; she would love to come talk to your group about the new full service volunteer center.
RSVP is looking for a few special people that like to drive. The Medical Transportation program utilizes volunteers to provide trips to necessary medical appointments for any resident of Barton County without alternate transportation. Volunteers use personal vehicles and are reimbursed for the cost of fuel by RSVP. You can elect to make local trips only, short trips, or longer trips to Wichita or Dodge City; you can elect to drive the wheelchair accessible van or not. RSVP will never ask you to drive in bad weather or if your personal schedule conflicts. Please call Carol for more information or to volunteer.
The Military Moms program is preparing another big shipment. Leslie Halbower-Barrett and a group of volunteers will be packing boxes at the American Legion Argonne Post 180, 1011 Kansas in Great Bend on Sunday, May 5, from 1 p.m. until finished. The packed boxes will be mailed to active military personnel who are stationed overseas. If you have a little extra time this afternoon, I’m sure Leslie wouldn’t turn down the extra help.
Memorial Day flowers are here!! The office at 1025 Main #D114 is just full of beautiful, colorful flowers ready to go; the flowers are also available at the RSVP Thrift Store, 158 S. Main in Hoisington. These are recycled flowers that have been fluffed by RSVP volunteers and truly look as good as new for bargain basement prices. Before you buy new memorial flowers this year, you really should come check us out. Not only are the flowers really affordable, but the proceeds from the sale of the flowers will go to a very good cause. All the proceeds will be used to fund a volunteer recognition event to say “Thank You” for all the great work RSVP volunteers do to improve the quality of life in Barton and Pawnee County. We have to raise money locally for these recognition events because our budgets have been cut so drastically. So plan to come by the office at 1025 Main #D114, Monday through Friday 8 a.m.—5 p.m. or go by 158 S. Main in Hoisington, Monday through Friday 11 a.m.—4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.—2 p.m. You will be glad you did.