The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center
AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
(Retired and Senior Volunteer Program)
Make a Difference
Are you 55+ and interested in meaningfully serving the local community - but unsure how to find a good volunteer match? Let us assist you!
Durham County RSVP is funded through an AmeriCorps Seniors grant. This free program helps older adults find a fulfilling volunteer opportunity that matches their skills, experience, and interests.
Opportunities range from tutoring to gardening, food distribution and transport, as well as providing management and operational assistance including training and capacity-building resources for nonprofits. Whether you are looking for an in-person/on-site experience or prefer to help remotely working on projects from home or via Zoom—we have many different types of volunteer options.
Durham County RSVP also provides mileage reimbursement, volunteer insurance and other benefits. It's a great resource to meet new friends and make a difference!
This program is operated out of Durham County but serves organizations that have operations throughout the Triangle area.
Let's get serving! Are you...
Volunteer Spotlight
Gary Dabbagh
Meals on Wheels
A research chemist and biotechnology researcher by profession, a volunteer EMT by service, and now a dedicated RSVP volunteer, Gary has spent much of his life finding meaningful ways to help others.
His journey has taken him from New Jersey to California and, ultimately, to Durham, North Carolina. Along the way, he has developed a strong appreciation for service and for the connections that make a community stronger.
When Gary began volunteering with RSVP, he was looking for a role that would be rewarding and would allow him to make a difference. He found that opportunity through meal delivery. For him, the role is about much more than bringing a meal from one place to another. He particularly enjoys conversations and personal connections with meal recipients—the opportunity to share a few words, hear a story, or simply brighten
someone’s day.
Trish Harrison
Duke Regional Hospital
Originally from Maryland, Trish Harrison and her husband relocated to Durham during the COVID-19 pandemic, fulfilling a long-held dream of living in a warmer climate.
When I interviewed Trish, she and her husband had recently returned from a vacation in Turkey. As our conversation continued, it became clear that they are avid travelers who enjoy exploring new cultures and destinations. Their next adventure is already on the calendar—a trip to Peru.
Before retiring and moving to North Carolina, Trish spent her professional career in Maryland as a high school Special Education Assistant. Relocating during a global pandemic presented its own unique challenges, but Trish quickly sought ways to become involved in her new community.