2018 -- S 2886

========

LC005640

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 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

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

and

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

combatting the opioid epidemic, and preventing elder abuse; and

19

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

 

1

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

2

volunteers to address additional community challenges; and

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

     WHEREAS, Senior Corps volunteers demonstrate commitment, dedication, and

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

State of Rhode Island; and be it further

12

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

13

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

14

be it further

15

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

16

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

17

for National and Community Service.

========

LC005640

========

 

LC005640 - Page 2 of 2