By Mary Grieco
Catholic Herald correspondent

RSVP: Seniors dedicated to helping others

RHINELANDER -- They call themselves the "Silent Seniors," but their actions speak clearly about their dedication to helping others. All are members of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), sponsored by Catholic Charities.

While the program covering Vilas, Oneida and Forest counties and the Tomahawk area has 982 volunteers at last count, the 12 Silent Seniors are focusing their efforts on a project known as "Open Your Heart to Haiti."

When Jackie Bushong-Martin initiated the outreach 10 years ago, her primary goal was to provide uniforms for the children of Haiti who could not attend school without government-specified clothing. RSVP volunteers, as well as seamstresses throughout the United States, have been sewing these uniforms for several years.

More recently, Bushong-Martin's focus has shifted to supporting Unity Orphanage, which is located in a poverty-stricken port city in northern Haiti. While uniforms are still required, the children also have many basic everyday needs, from underwear and school supplies, to dishes and bedding.

About a year ago she and Jan Chamberlain, both members of the RSVP Advisory Board, were discussing the Haiti project, and Chamberlain decided there was a way she could help right from her home in Tomahawk. She got a list of needed items, and as she talked to friends and family, several asked for a copy of the list. The collection quickly began mounting.

Among the volunteers who have dedicated many hours is Peg Kelly. "This is so much fun," she said. "I love going to garage sales and talking to people about Haiti." Many times she gets donations when people find out about the project. Kelly has personally made many donations, including a collection of silver-plated items that she and a friend had been collecting to make jewelry.

Kelly is also a seamstress and has made clothes for Barbie dolls given to the orphanage. The Silent Seniors put many smiles on the faces of the children by including a big assortment of toys. Besides other things, Chamberlain has been collecting used stuffed toys and "refurbishing" them so they are like new.

There are 21 children ages 3 to 16 living at Unity. In addition, 35 street children attend school there. Bushong-Martin, who has visited the area six times, sends $300 per month to pay the teachers and provide books for the Christian-based curriculum.

To help raise funds, she is accepting donations for a garage sale next fall. Anything that may be of use to the children will be sent to Haiti; other items will be sold, with the proceeds going to the orphanage. Lori Bushong, Bushong-Martin's sister, is the RSVP director and has also traveled to Haiti.

The Silent Seniors have been very creative in finding ways to make life more comfortable for the children, Bushong-Martin said. "What is nice about having them join this effort is that they come up with things I never would have thought of; they are taking a huge burden off of me." For example, Chamberlain's husband, Don, suggested sending hammocks that can be tied between trees. What prompted that idea was hearing that some of the children had been sleeping four in a bed the size of an army cot. Now several of them sleep comfortably in hammocks.

Don Chamberlain also provides muscle and transportation to move the collected items from their home to the RSVP office in Rhinelander, where they are boxed and shipped. Included in some of the shipments are rosaries made for the orphans by youth of St. Mary Parish in Tomahawk, where the Chamberlains are active members.

The Silent Seniors are involved in many other projects through RSVP, including several craft projects such as making hats for premature babies and chemotherapy patients. They also knit and crochet about 225 hat and mitten sets each year for Head Start children.

Jan Chamberlain put the reason for their Haiti volunteer work into a simple statement: "We just love helping Jackie's kids," she said. "It is a joy. I think this is what we were meant to do."

Anyone wanting more information or wishing to have items picked up for the garage sale next fall may call the RSVP office at 715-369-1919.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2006