Senior & Community Volunteers Program FAQs
For Potential Volunteers:
PSP hosts AmeriCorps VISTA members and community volunteers, but how are the programs different?
The Senior & Community Volunteers Program is quite different from AmeriCorps VISTA in its purpose and how it is run. VISTA is for members to work 40 hours a week creating programs and tracking information to support schools and organizations in supporting students and families. The Senior & Community Volunteers Program is a more informal program where volunteers are people of all ages who are interested in giving back to schools and organizations more directly. The Senior & Community Volunteers Program is also more flexible in that volunteers can negotiate their hours and can participate in a variety of direct and indirect service activities.
Do I have to be a certain age to serve with the Senior & Community Volunteers Program?
No, we welcome volunteers of all ages! We work with volunteer stations to provide opportunities that accommodate all ages, schedules, skills, and interests.
Do I get paid to serve with this program?
Our volunteers are not paid a living stipend. They are also not required to be in a low-income situation.
Can I do this volunteer work and have another job?
Yes! Our volunteers have the freedom to hold other employment and dedicate a few hours per week to their volunteer service activities.
What service activities can volunteers with PSP's Senior & Community Volunteers Program participate in?
Our Senior & Community Volunteers Program focuses primarily on education, which extends all the way to supporting school and organization administration. This means that volunteers with this program often engage in education-focused service activities such as: mentoring students, veterans & military families support, classroom help, teaching students, reading with students, art in schools, tutoring students, After School Club, food support for students and families, and college/career readiness.
Other possible volunteer activities may include: Meals on Wheels, teaching adults, receptionist, handicrafts, youth activity leader, career planning presentations, even planning, food pantry help, VA transport, resume/cover letter training, reading with adults, office work, information desk assistance, refugee services, and helping persons with special needs.
What are hours are volunteers required to work?
Volunteers with the Senior & Community Volunteers Program can work for varying hours depending on their availability and the needs of the host station.
Who decides what service activities volunteers can engage in?
Volunteers work with the host station to agree upon volunteer activities. If you have a certain set of skills and experiences and/or are willing to learn new skills, please let your host station staff know!
What commitments are volunteers with The Senior & Community Volunteers Program required to make?
Volunteers commit to:
- being at the site at the agreed upon times to do the agreed upon activities
- bringing their skills, interests and passions for helping schools and youth
- being a positive contribution to the school's/organization's environment
The Senior & Community Volunteers Program is quite different from AmeriCorps VISTA in its purpose and how it is run. VISTA is for members to work 40 hours a week creating programs and tracking information to support schools and organizations in supporting students and families. The Senior & Community Volunteers Program is a more informal program where volunteers are people of all ages who are interested in giving back to schools and organizations more directly. The Senior & Community Volunteers Program is also more flexible in that volunteers can negotiate their hours and can participate in a variety of direct and indirect service activities.
Do I have to be a certain age to serve with the Senior & Community Volunteers Program?
No, we welcome volunteers of all ages! We work with volunteer stations to provide opportunities that accommodate all ages, schedules, skills, and interests.
Do I get paid to serve with this program?
Our volunteers are not paid a living stipend. They are also not required to be in a low-income situation.
Can I do this volunteer work and have another job?
Yes! Our volunteers have the freedom to hold other employment and dedicate a few hours per week to their volunteer service activities.
What service activities can volunteers with PSP's Senior & Community Volunteers Program participate in?
Our Senior & Community Volunteers Program focuses primarily on education, which extends all the way to supporting school and organization administration. This means that volunteers with this program often engage in education-focused service activities such as: mentoring students, veterans & military families support, classroom help, teaching students, reading with students, art in schools, tutoring students, After School Club, food support for students and families, and college/career readiness.
Other possible volunteer activities may include: Meals on Wheels, teaching adults, receptionist, handicrafts, youth activity leader, career planning presentations, even planning, food pantry help, VA transport, resume/cover letter training, reading with adults, office work, information desk assistance, refugee services, and helping persons with special needs.
What are hours are volunteers required to work?
Volunteers with the Senior & Community Volunteers Program can work for varying hours depending on their availability and the needs of the host station.
Who decides what service activities volunteers can engage in?
Volunteers work with the host station to agree upon volunteer activities. If you have a certain set of skills and experiences and/or are willing to learn new skills, please let your host station staff know!
What commitments are volunteers with The Senior & Community Volunteers Program required to make?
Volunteers commit to:
- being at the site at the agreed upon times to do the agreed upon activities
- bringing their skills, interests and passions for helping schools and youth
- being a positive contribution to the school's/organization's environment
For Potential Host Stations:
I'm interested in hosting volunteers with PSP's Senior & Community Volunteers Program at my school or community organization. How much does the program cost?
There is no formal cost for volunteers or for host stations to participate in this program. The greatest potential actual cost is background check fees if the partner organization requires these for volunteers.
What are PSP's responsibilities in the Senior & Community Volunteers Program/host station partnership?
PSP is the grant holder and has the responsibility to:
- provide quality sites where motivated volunteers can serve
- provide support as needed to help everyone feel satisfied with the volunteer-station match
What are the host station's responsibilities in the Senior & Community Volunteers Program/host station partnership?
Each station has the responsibility to:
- make sure volunteers are background checked as per their organization's rules
- provide a respectful volunteering place and activities for the volunteers
As a host station, am I required to provide a meal for volunteers serving at my school/organization?
Often sites provide a meal for volunteers when they volunteer over a certain number of hours and are at the station during meal times. However, offering a meal is not required.
There is no formal cost for volunteers or for host stations to participate in this program. The greatest potential actual cost is background check fees if the partner organization requires these for volunteers.
What are PSP's responsibilities in the Senior & Community Volunteers Program/host station partnership?
PSP is the grant holder and has the responsibility to:
- provide quality sites where motivated volunteers can serve
- provide support as needed to help everyone feel satisfied with the volunteer-station match
What are the host station's responsibilities in the Senior & Community Volunteers Program/host station partnership?
Each station has the responsibility to:
- make sure volunteers are background checked as per their organization's rules
- provide a respectful volunteering place and activities for the volunteers
As a host station, am I required to provide a meal for volunteers serving at my school/organization?
Often sites provide a meal for volunteers when they volunteer over a certain number of hours and are at the station during meal times. However, offering a meal is not required.
