CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Looking out for the elderly is something that the City of Corpus Christi takes very seriously.
To continue that mission, workers with the Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department say they need volunteers to give these senior citizens a companion.
Gaining friendships for many senior citizens can lead to a healthy and productive lifestyle.
When entering the journey of retirement, some may walk alone and at times not have a shoulder to lean on.
The Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department is making sure loneliness does not affect the community elderly with their senior companion’s program.
“They're there to read books to them to sit with them to read the newspaper watch TV with them take them for a walk that's what their companions are for,” says RSVP Director Ericka Maldonado.
RSVP or better known as the "Retired Senior Volunteer Program" Director Ericka Maldonado says volunteers are crucial and are needed.
Anyone above the age of 55 can join and make a difference.
Staff says the importance of the program is to keep seniors active while providing them a healthy and social lifestyle, and an energetic future.
“Like I said the fact that they work here they retire here and they are still giving to the community I mean that stands out to me by far the most and it makes me want to be a volunteer makes me want to promote the program so much more, just tell everybody if you have time and you want to volunteer you should do it,” says Maldonado.
The program has RSVP stations all over the City of Corpus Christi that includes the Veteran Affairs Clinic, Del Mar, and the U.S.S. Lexington.
