As some of you may or may not know, grant funds for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, have been terminated due to state budget shortfalls. We are hopeful program funds will be reinstated for the next fiscal year, as RSVP has become very important to the senior citizens in our communities.

The Dickinson County Cancer Unit Loan Closet is one of the designated RSVP volunteer stations. We are a non-profit organization and are totally staffed by volunteers. We provide a much-needed service loaning out medical equipment (at no cost) along with supplying financial aid, Ensure and incontinence supplies, also at no cost, to cancer clients in our service area. We are all “senior” volunteers and without us this organization would not exist.

RSVP gives us the opportunity to get out into the community and use our knowledge and skills to benefit others. It is an important aspect of our lives, knowing that we have contributed in some way to the well-being of others through giving of our time and expertise. The social get-togethers RSVP organizes provide us with an opportunity to connect with other volunteers and share a common bond. We are reaching out to you to express our concerns and hopefully through letters, calls or e-mail contact to the following legislators, program funds for RSVP will be reinstated for the next year.

Legislators: State Sen. Ed McBroom, 201 Townsend St., Suite 7200, P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909-7536, 517-373-7840, sememcbroom@senate.michigan.gov; state Rep. Beau LaFave, S-1487 House Office Building, Lansing, MI 48909, 517-373-0156, beaulafave@house.mi.gov; state Rep. Greg Markkanen, S-1489 House Office Building, P.O. 30014, Lansing, MI 48909, 517-373-0850, GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov.

Thank you for helping our senior programs continue to be a vital part of our community.