RSVP Retired Senior & Volunteer Program
Welcome to RSVP, Retired Senior & Volunteer Program
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program helps individuals age 55 and older put their skills and life experience to work for their communities.
RSVP is a federally-sponsored program, part of AmeriCorps Seniors, which pairs Americans aged 55 and older with organizations serving citizens in a variety of ways. The Mid Rio Grande Chapter of RCVP acknowledges the support of the city of Belen, and connects seniors wishing to help their community to find activities they will enjoy, which benefits the overall community. RSVP services more than two dozen partners all around Valencia County. For example: Belen Area Food Pantry, Bosque Farms Senior Center, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Belen Public Library, Meadow Lake Senior Center, Secundino Baldonado American Legion Post #81, St. Vincente de Paul Thrift Store, and Valencia County Animal Shelter.
How RSVP helps our community in other ways:
- Partners with AARP for tax preparation services for seniors.
- Provides information and guidance to seniors and families in need with free food distribution.
- Hosts an annual luncheon for all its volunteers.
- Provides support for events at the Belen senior center.
- Hosts an annual health fair for all(pre-pandemic and later, post-pandemic).
- Adopted a Belen city park by adding landscaping, regular cleanups, and maintenance.
- Removal of graffiti from structures in the community.
- Keeping volunteers informed with a quarterly newsletter.
RSVP volunteers serve from a few hours to forty hours a week. They do a lot within our community helping Non-profits, private, public community organizations and assisting many other great projects. However they choose to serve, RSVP volunteers meet community needs and make a lasting difference. RSVP promotes the engagement of older persons as community resources in planning for community improvement and delivering volunteer services.



Why Be A Volunteer?
RSVP members make a difference in the lives of those in need. With each new experience, volunteers meet new people and work to solve new problems, creating solutions that benefit everyone. Living a satisfying and fulfilling life means helping others, staying involved, giving back to the community and having fun. RSVP offers the chance to do all of these!
RSVP is a completely FREE program. You are not expected to buy uniforms, nor do you obtain any kind of obligation whatsoever. The program allows you to choose when and where you volunteer. Furthermore, you will receive free volunteer placement and supplemental accident and liability insurance (when you are on your way to volunteer, during your volunteer time, and on your way home).
Benefits to becoming a volunteer
- Supplemental accident and liability insurance
- The satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference
- Optional mileage reimbursement
- Annual Appreciation/Recognition Luncheon
- Volunteer Insurance Service provided by CIMA
Click Here for the RSVP Volunteer Enrollment Form
RSVP partnered with the City of Belen to help fund-raise for the VA Memorial located at Belen Eagle Park.
Donations for the Veterans Memorial and Information Center are being sought now. Donations of trees, shrubs, and rose bushes as well as financial contributions are needed for continuing constructions, equipping, and maintaining of the Memorial and Information Center. For more information or for questions please call Bertha Flores at 505-966-2567 or Frank Ortega at 505-966-2664 or view the brochure by clicking the button below.
Veterans Memorial PDF
Brick Applications Still Accepted
The Veterans Memorial Center is still accepting Brick applications and Veterans' pictures. Applications for the bricks can be picked up at the
Belen Veteran Center 305 Eagle Ln Belen and
Belen Business Center 719 S. Main St. Belen
The cost of each brick is $40.00.
All Veteran's pictures are placed at the information center at no cost. Each photo should be in an 8x10 black frame.
For more information please contact Bertha Flores at 505-966-2567 or Frank Ortega at 505-966-2585.
ECHO "Free Food for Seniors" Program
Click Here for Income Guidelines and Additional Information for the ECHO ProgramThe Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides monthly nutritious food, recipes, basic nutrition information, and referrals to other programs for income-qualified, New Mexico resident seniors 60 years and up.
To register you need
- Picture ID
- Proof of age
- New Mexico residency
- Current year income for entire household is required
Registration is at the Belen Community Center
305 Eagle Lane, Belen, NM 87002
from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Distribution Dates for 2022
February 8th
March 8th
April 12th
May 10th
June 7th
July 12th
August 9th
September 6th
October 11th
November 8th
December 6th
For more information please contact the RSVP office, Bertha Flores 505-966-2567 or Cindy Lu Hurbina 505-966-2566.
Newsletters
May, June, July 2022 | Download |
February, March, April 2022 | Download |
November, December 2021, January 2022 | Download |
August, September, October 2021 | Download |
May 2021 Memorial Day | Download |
May, June, July 2021 | Download |
February, March April 2021 | Download |
April, May, June 2020 | Download |
January, February, March 2020 | Download |
October, November, December 2019 | Download |
Summer 2019 | Download |
Spring 2019 | Download |
Winter 2018-2019 | Download |
September 2018 | Download |
July 2018 | Download |
April 2018 | Download |
January 2018 | Download |
RSVP Advisory Council Members
Jim Rickey - Chairperson
Orlinda Duree - Vice-Chairperson
Wayne Gallegos - Member
Pearl Lucero - Member
Nancy Gonzales - Member
Frank Ortega - Ex-Officio
Robert Noblin - Ex-Officio
Connect With RSVP on Facebook!
Come and visit the Retired Senior & Volunteer Program (RSVP) on Facebook!
Belen Food Pantry
Belen Food Pantry is distributing food boxes to families in need.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
201 S 3rd Street
Belen, NM 87002
Must have ID, Proof of Residence, and live in the Belen school district.
**Limited to 72 Boxes per day**
For more information call Mid-Rio Grande RSVP 505-966-2567
RSVP Location
719 S Main St.
Belen NM 87002
Contact
Bertha Flores, RSVP Director
Bertha.Flores@belen-nm.gov
Cindy Lu Hurbina, RSVP Assistant
(505) 966-2566
Cindy.Cowan@belen-nm.gov