NORWALK ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NOW, Inc.
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program

98 South Main Street
Norwalk, CT  06854-3126
Phone (203) 899-2442
Fax (203) 899-2430
 

 
Darien   Greenwich    New Canaan    Norwalk    Stamford    Weston    Westport    Wilton

 
ABOUT US
Our volunteers demonstrate daily how seniors are a vital resource to help solve many of society's problems.  This program offers you a chance to work in a project within the community that matches your values, passions, and skills.  

We have over 400 volunteers who donated over 35,000 hours to over 65 community agencies in lower Fairfield County. 

Although we require you to be at least 55 years of age, we have many volunteers who continue to be active well into their 90's!

Our sponsor is NEON, a private nonprofit community action agency serving the greater Norwalk area.  In addition, we receive funding from many sources - please go to our Contributors page for more information.  

COMMUNITIES SERVED:  
 Darien
Greenwich
New Canaan
Norwalk
Stamford
Weston
Westport 
Wilton

A BRIEF HISTORY
 RSVP is an outgrowth of efforts by private groups, gerontologists, and government agencies over the past decades to address the needs of retirees.  Back in 1961, the White House called attention to the continuing need of older people for useful activity.  In 1965, the Older Americans Act was passed.  

In 1971, RSVP was launched under the auspices of the Administration on Aging (AOA).  In July of that year, RSVP was transferred to the federal agency, ACTION, which had oversight of federal domestic volunteer programs.  11 projects were started that summer. 

This program proved to be a major success.  ACTION was decentralized in 1973. Rapid growth quickly occurred, with over 650 projects nationwide operating on federal appropriations of $15,000,000.  Federal funding doubled over the next 15 years, with the number of active projects expanding dramatically.   Originally, volunteers had to be retired and over the age of 60.  That changed in 1993 when the age was reduced to 55 and still in the work force.  

By 2001, the RSVP program included over 750 local projects with nearly half a million volunteers contributing over 78 million hours of service through a network of 70,000 local agencies.   

What started out as a small federal project nearly 30 years ago has become an integral part of many communities nationwide!

 

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