Residents interested in volunteer opportunities will have numerous chances to help out over the summer months.

DeWitt County's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, has a variety of opportunities for local residents to help out. Silvia Comfort, Volunteer Coordinator of RSVP says the program is state and federally funded, and it is designed to take residents 55-years or older and put them into areas of need and help out in the community.

[audio:rsvp1.mp3]Silvia Comfort[/audio]

Weldon Springs and helping in preparation for the Apple and Pork Festival are among the many opportunities for help from the local community. Comfort says that anyone interested should contact RSVP  because they are always in need in volunteers, and there are many opportunities to lend a helping hand.

[audio:rsvp2.mp3]Silvia Comfort[/audio]

Comfort notes the Reading Buddies Program saw a significant spike in volunteers needed. She says its a good opportunity to help the youth with their reading skills and continue to sharpen those reading skills through the summer months away from school.

[audio:rsvp3 (2).mp3]Silvia Comfort[/audio]

Comfort believes the spike in volunteers needed for the Reading Buddies program is due to the fact the current society is realizing how important good reading skills are and how important they are to the future of kids.

Along with helping the reading skills, there is also math tutors. Comfort says there are a few students this summer in need of math help, so the program will extend to help with mathematics.

If you would like more information on RSVP or any of the volunteer opportunities they have, feel free to contact Silvia Comfort at, (217)935-2241 or e-mail at scomfort@doveinc.org.