For Steve and Marlene, retirement means more time to give back to the community that they love. For the last five years, they have been volunteering through Central Iowa RSVP’s transportation program to provide rides to essential appointments for Story County residents who cannot drive themselves.
Even in a community with strong services, transportation challenges can prevent people from getting the support they need. Volunteer drivers like Steve and Marlene play a crucial role in closing that gap. With support from United Way and other community partners, RSVP provides dependable rides that help residents stay connected to the care and resources they rely on. Last year alone, local volunteers made over one thousand rides possible.
After forty years as an X-ray technician, Marlene missed the meaningful interactions that filled her workdays. Volunteering with RSVP has given her a new way to build those connections. One client she regularly drives turned out to live in her own neighborhood, and their shared rides have quickly grown into a warm friendship.
“It’s just fun to get to know the people,” Steve says. “They become more than just acquaintances.” Steve initially got involved in RSVP’s driving program after hearing a presentation at his Kiwanis chapter. “It can be so easy in retirement to be so focused on myself,” he says. His values encourage him to do more. “Giving back is important to Marlene and I. RSVP and driving is a great way to do that.”
Steve and Marlene now consider themselves longtime Ames locals, with over fifty years in town and fifty years of marriage. “Ames is just a cool community,” Steve reflects. “I came to Iowa State, liked Ames a lot, and basically never left.” As Marlene puts it, “Ames is really home for me now. It’s a good place to age.” Beyond that, it was a great place for their children. “Our first house was a block from the elementary school- a perfect place to raise a family,” Steve says.
By giving back, RSVP volunteers celebrate their community. Along with internal initiatives like the transportation program, RSVP connects volunteers with local nonprofits to make lasting change. “There are opportunities to utilize the skills and interests that they’ve been developing over a lifetime,” says Kalen Peterson, Executive Director at RSVP. “We want to make sure that we’re placing them with a volunteer assignment that meets their personal needs and is a rewarding experience,” she explains.
United Way of Story County’s partnership with RSVP ensures that older adults can stay meaningfully engaged in the community, using their time and talents to create lasting impact while strengthening the bonds that make Story County a more connected, compassionate place for everyone.