R 238

2018 -- S 2886 Enacted 05/15/2018

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF APRIL 29 THROUGH MAY 5, 2018, TO BE "SENIOR CORPS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Lombardi, Felag, Archambault, and Coyne

Date Introduced: May 15, 2018

WHEREAS, Americans are living longer, achieving more and taking on new roles after

decades of hard work to ensure opportunity for the generations that follow; and

WHEREAS, Our grateful nation recognizes the contributions of seniors during the month

of May, which has been designated as Older Americans Month; and

WHEREAS, Older Americans bring a lifetime of skills and experiences that can be

tapped to meet the many challenges facing our nation's communities; and

WHEREAS, For more than five decades, the three Senior Corps programs – Foster

Grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP – have proven to be a highly cost-effective way to

engage Americans age 55 and over in volunteer service that meets pressing community needs;

and

WHEREAS, Senior Corps volunteers build a capacity of nonprofit, community, faith-

based and other organizations by serving at 25,000 locations across the country; and

WHEREAS, Each year Senior Corps provides opportunities for 220,000 older Americans

to serve their communities across the nation, including approximately 2,700 in Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, Senior Corps volunteers last year provided more than 54 million

hours of service, improving the lives of our most vulnerable citizens, strengthening our education

system, helping seniors live independently in their homes, protecting our environment,

combatting the opioid epidemic, and preventing elder abuse; and

WHEREAS, At a time of mounting social needs and growing interest in service by older

Americans, our nation has an unprecedented opportunity to harness the talents of 55-plus aged

volunteers to address additional community challenges; and

WHEREAS, Service by older Americans keeps them active, healthy, and engaged. It

helps our communities by solving local problems; and helps our nation by saving taxpayer

dollars, reducing health care costs, and strengthening our democracy; and

WHEREAS, Senior Corps volunteers demonstrate commitment, dedication, and

patriotism by making an intensive commitment to service, a commitment that makes a lasting

impact on the individuals and communities they serve; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby proclaims the week of April 29 through May 5, 2018, to be "Senior Corps Week" in the

State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby urges other officials, organizations, and citizens to

recognize Senior Corps volunteers and programs for their commitment to our communities; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Barbara Stewart, Chief Executive Officer

for National and Community Service.

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LC005640

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