Helen Green was recognized as a Utah Senior Corps Service Award recipient in May 2020 as an RSVP volunteer with the Salt Lake County RSVP program.
She was nominated by Vicki Jo Hansen, RSVP and division volunteer coordinator for Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services. Vicki provided this nomination for Helen:
RSVP (The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer Helen Green is a champion of causes that contribute to independence and a greater sense of social connectedness for aging seniors in our community. Among other initiatives she volunteers with Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services Meals on Wheels program.
For the past three and a half years Helen has helped frail and isolated seniors by delivering 1,300 hot nutritious meals through her service with Salt Lake County Meals on Wheels. Helen delivers a meal route two days each week. The people she serves can no longer prepare their own meals, and sometimes the meal she delivers is their only meal for the day. She is always willing to be flexible and wait for someone if they take a little longer than usual to answer the door, which is especially helpful as often, Helen is the only person the client will see that day. Her kind words and friendly smile mean a great deal to them. Her visit along with a hot meal is truly the highlight of their day. They have a greater sense of dignity because of her service. For the seniors Helen serves, having access to hot nutritious meals and socialization is essential to maintaining health and the ability to remain independently in their own homes.
Additionally, Helen has also served for two years in the Meals Plus program. Local farmers donate fresh produce and volunteers convene one day per week to sort and prepare bags of the produce to be delivered to the people receiving Meals on Wheels home delivered meals. Helen was there every week during the four month growing season and even took some of the prep work with the bags home with her.
Helen is an amazing dedicated volunteer who doesn’t let anything stand in the way of helping people. She has continued to serve and help others through her own life challenges. She is always smiling and so pleasant to be around. We were amazed at how quickly she returned to serving after having foot surgery. She is also willing to do substitute meal delivery to help make sure people get their meals if their delivery volunteer is ill or in other need of coverage. She has continued to deliver meals through our COVID-19 challenges.
At 92 years old, Helen also advocates for the great need for more volunteers. She lauds the health benefits she has realized and believes these to be a result of being active and engaged in volunteering and other activities. She has set a fine example for other volunteers to follow of how just one person can make a tremendous difference in the lives of not only the people receiving service but in the life of the volunteer.
Helen has delivered 1300 meals and given more than 1000 hours in service to seniors. She has made a tremendous difference in the lives of the people she serves. It is an honor to be associated with such a kind and dedicated volunteer. Her service is inspiring and truly vital to the older citizens she has served throughout Salt Lake County.
Congratulations and thank you for your amazing service, Helen!
About RSVP
RSVP is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over. RSVP volunteers use the skills and talents they’ve learned over the years, or develop new ones while serving in a variety of volunteer activities in their community. These opportunities may include delivering home-delivered meals, tutoring and mentoring youth, renovating homes, preparing for and responding to natural disasters, and protecting the environment. Volunteer commitments range from a few hours to 40 hours per week.
The Salt Lake County RSVP program run by Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services is one of eight RSVP programs in Utah. To get involved with a Senior Corps program in your area, you can visit this website. To find out more about national service and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers national service programs including AmeriCorps State, please visit this website.