A volunteer program in Mount Pleasant is the recipient of a Volunteer Iowa grant.

The Fellowship Cup, a social services organization, received a grant of $16,464.69 for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, referred to as RSVP. The Fellowship Cup RSVP Director Camille Van Horn describes RSVP, “We use volunteers over the age of 55. It’s for senior volunteers, and the bulk of what our volunteers do here is providing medical transportation for people who need it, to get to and from their medical appointments.”

Mount Pleasant RSVP volunteers also participate in Meals on Wheels, the food pantry, and they read to elementary students. Van Horn looks to the program’s future, “At this point we’re kind of looking to expand and see who are some of the other entities in the community who may not be served yet. Organizations, people that may need some volunteers to expand their programs and to meet the needs of some people that we have not yet been aware of.”

Van Horn says the majority of the grant will be used to reimburse volunteers’ mileage for their transport service. RSVP is a statewide program that connects those who are 55 and older with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability.