May is Older Americans Month. We are honored to play a part in ensuring that older adult homeowners can safely age in place and remain in their homes with every repair project we complete. We’re grateful to all those who have helped Rebuild Upstate say “yes” to meeting the critical needs of more than 2,100 low-income older adults in our 20 years of service.
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), funded through an AmeriCorps Seniors grant, does just that by providing a unique opportunity for adults aged 55 and older to give back to their community through volunteering. Essentially, RSVP gives active seniors the chance to serve other seniors. With each RSVP-eligible volunteer, Rebuild Upstate invests federal grant funding into repairing homes locally. It’s truly a win-win.
One such RSVP participant, Doug Greenwell, is a current board member with Rebuild Upstate and a longtime active volunteer.
For more than a decade, Doug Greenwell has called Greenville home but his heart for service was shaped long before that. A Kentucky native, Doug has spent years investing in his community, and much of that journey has been alongside Rebuild Upstate. He first heard about Rebuild Upstate 8 years ago, when he was tasked with finding a collaboration project for his church.
“After researching various local initiatives, I discovered Rebuild Upstate (RU) online. I was immediately drawn to the hands-on nature of their work. I knew that getting our group out on a job site—swinging hammers and working together toward a tangible goal—was what I was looking for.”
Doug dove straight in with Rebuild Upstate, and made it his personal goal to donate 200 hours a year. He is able to do this through leading build days, volunteering at the warehouse, and volunteering with the Handyman Club once a week.
After 6 years of being involved with RU, Doug heard about the RSVP program. He became eager to get his friends and family involved as a way to help RU maintain grant funding throughout the year.
The RSVP Program incentivizes those that are 55 and older to volunteer with Rebuild Upstate in any of our four service areas: Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, and Oconee counties. “It is important that most of the people that qualify for the RSVP program are retired and have time to give and financial resources, it makes sense for us to give back more and more and no better place to do it then giving back to the community and making homes safe.”
His favorite part of a build day is taking a photo at the end with the homeowner. The satisfaction of seeing everyone’s reactions to the completed project is very rewarding. That is one of the many reasons why Doug donates his time to the RSVP program and Rebuild Upstate.
If Doug’s story inspires you, there’s a place for you, too. Rebuild Upstate must engage with 200 RSVP-eligible volunteers each year to receive the grant funding. To learn more about joining the RSVP program at Rebuild Upstate, complete the RSVP inquiry form and we’ll contact you directly.