ABOUT MARSHALL COUNTY RSVP

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program started as a pilot project in 1971. However, Marshall County was not one of the 12 pilot programs that year. The following year, Congressman Tom Bevill was able to get an RSVP started in Marshall County with Snead State Community College as the sponsor. In 1973, the Marshall County Commission took over the sponsorship of RSVP. The RSVP Board of Directors incorporated in 1992. On July 1, 2009, the RSVP corporation became the official sponsor.

RSVP now provides the structure for the Lifelong Learning Academy, where volunteers can share the skills they have learned over their lifetimes or learn new skills from others. RSVP is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over. The Reading Buddies program, Water Watch, Therapy Dogs, puppet troupe and free income tax return preparation and filing are among the community services provided by RSVP volunteers in Marshall County. In 2017, RSVP members provided 85,040 volunteer hours in the areas of healthy futures, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, human need and disaster recovery and relief.

The organization has been housed in several locations through the years, including both of the old Guntersville Hospital buildings. Currently in the back of the Mike’s Merchandise building, RSVP is awaiting a move to its new home, which is under construction. The Gathering Place is being built lakeside just north of the river bridge in Guntersville.