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AmeriCorps RSVP funding canceled nationally; Sullivan County plans volunteer fair and coordinates food‑security response
Summary
County staff said the AmeriCorps RSVP program was not renewed nationwide; Sullivan County will run a volunteer fair May 17 and is convening a food‑security coalition to map pantry needs as demand rises among working families.
County staff told the Legislature that the RSVP AmeriCorps program was not renewed at the national level and that many AmeriCorps staff have been placed on administrative leave or let go, complicating drawdown of remaining grant funds for local programs.
Staff described RSVP’s role in Sullivan County: in 2024 the local RSVP volunteers provided 14,170 hours of service across 116 volunteers, and performed critical services for the Office for the Aging including out‑of‑county medical transportation and delivery of homebound meals. County staff said they have temporarily reallocated other local funds to cover service gaps while they reconsider program design.
To bolster volunteer recruitment and match volunteers with local nonprofits and service providers, county RSVP coordinator Monica Russa is hosting a volunteer fair on May 17 at Cornell Cooperative Extension from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. County staff said the event will include nonprofit vendors seeking volunteers and that outreach materials have been distributed.
Separately, the Sullivan Catskills Food Security Coalition (led by county staff, Cornell Cooperative Extension and other partners) will meet on May 5 to map pantry coverage and emerging needs. County staff said increased food‑pantry use is being driven by working families whose wages have not kept pace with rising rents and utility bills; the coalition will look at contingency plans and coordination to avoid waste and improve distribution.
Ending: Staff urged residents in need to reach out to the Office for the Aging or other local partners and said the county will continue coordinating volunteers and nonprofit partners to maintain services while federal program uncertainties persist.
