Allamakee County Emergency Management and NEIA RSVP coordinate grant funding to supply local communities with administrative supplies for emergency or volunteer situations

by Joe Moses

Friday, October 4, Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker and Director Deanna Hageman of Northeast Iowa RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) filled seven totes with administrative supplies to be placed in each community within Allamakee County including Lansing, New Albin, Harpers Ferry, Postville, Waterville and Waukon, with one tote also designated for the Allamakee County Emergency Management Department.

Snitker and Hageman said that the purchase of administrative supplies and totes was made possible through the Regional Readiness Summit Idea Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. The $1,500 awarded for the project allowed for the purchase of supplies that will be placed within each community and will be used for administrative purposes including volunteer receptions centers, incident command and emergency command posts.

Snitker said that the supplies and totes will be useful for a variety of volunteer needs including emergencies and incidents relating to weather, railroad spills and missing persons, as well as public events requiring volunteer assistance like marathons. Hageman also advised of an additional grant that has been used in the purchase of wristbands in multiple colors, which will aid in checking in volunteers and setting up different teams or groups based on responsibilities.

Hageman provided an overview of the RSVP program, indicating that the program engages persons age 55 and over, and serves Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties, with 390 volunteers being part of the program last year and accounting for 28,000 volunteer hours. Hageman indicated that three food pantries benefit from volunteer assistance from this program and that area nursing homes have also benefited from volunteers spending time with residents. According to Hageman, various skillsets are needed for the volunteer program with all volunteers being welcome. She said upcoming skill-based presentations by volunteers will include topics like fraud and the opioid crisis.

Those who have questions about the RSVP program may contact Deana Hageman at Northeast Iowa RSVP at 563-277-5181 or toll free at 1-877-806-0623. Additional information may be found on the RSVP website at https://www.decorah.lib.ia.us/rsvp.