CRANSTON, RI - In an effort to help charitable organizations recruit more volunteers and address community challenges, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced $115,790 in federal funds to support senior volunteer activities in Rhode Island.  Westbay Community Action will receive $72,708 and Blackstone Valley Community Action will receive $43,082 in Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Senior Corps RSVP grants for their Healthy Futures programs.

The grant is authorized through the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to expand opportunities for more Americans to serve while enhancing the capacity of non-profits to have a sustained impact in local communities.  The federal funding will support activities like improving access to health care, increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in youth, and increasing seniors' ability to remain in their own homes in Warwick, West Warwick, East Greenwich, Coventry, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, and Cumberland.

“Americans 55 and older have a wealth of expertise and skills that can enrich communities and the Senior Corps program is a great federal investment that is making a real difference in people’s lives throughout Rhode Island.  These competitive grants will help more senior volunteers reach people in need and strengthen our communities,” said Reed, a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees Senior Corps funding and a strong supporter of national service programs, who voted for the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. 

The grant will be administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than four million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and the Social Innovation Fund, and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve.  For more information, visit NationalService.gov.