Click here to download the How To Guide to becoming an Elder Mentor, which explains the entire process. In order to volunteer, you must complete a full application, and interview with our team. You also must be fingerprinted and pass a background check. This may take longer than usual (a few weeks or more) depending on the facilities that are available where you live in Alaska.

The process of becoming a Senior Companion is very similar! Instead of partnering with a school site to match an Elder Mentor with students, we partner with community organizations to match Senior Companions with seniors. Sometimes this may take some time to find an appropriate match. Our Program Coordinators are dedicated to making your service the best experience possible, and work hard to find a suitable match. Most volunteers begin service within 1 to 2 months of their application being approved.

The current tax-exempt stipend offered by the federal government is $4/hour. This is a small way of saying thank you for volunteering. It is not a paycheck. That said, most volunteers make around $250 a month. This total is lesser or greater depending on the hours served every month. If you volunteer the minimum of 20 hours a month (five hours a week), you would make $80 (tax-free) a month. Plus you also get meal and mileage reimbursement. You are welcome to serve more hours at your site. You make your monthly schedule with your Site Supervisor.

Remember, volunteers also receive Paid Time Off (PTO) leave accrual and paid federal holidays.  

You will serve in your local community, never in your home. All of our volunteers are matched with a site close to where they live. If you have a preference and know of a site in which you wish to volunteer, let your Coordinator know. Otherwise, our coordinators will match you with a site that works best. 

No. All are welcome. We have many Alaska Native Elders who serve in their communities, and are always encouraging more to join. Many Culture Bearer Elder Mentors serve in this capacity, passing down language and traditions to the next generation. We also welcome all ethnicities to serve as volunteers. Both men and women are welcome.

*Note: Senior Companions is currently only open to Alaska Native Elders. We are waiting on funding to open it to all. Please stay tuned for updates.

We are based out of Anchorage at the RurAL CAP Central Office, and manage both Elder Mentors and Senior Companions throughout Alaska. Our Program Coordinators are available during the work week to assist you over the phone and via email. They also make frequent site visits, and will travel to train and meet with volunteers all over Alaska.

All volunteers are also paired with a Site Supervisor local to where they live. Don’t worry. You will have the support you need to be successful in your service.

*Note: If you are in Anchorage, please do not visit the RurAL CAP building unannounced. The building is only accessed by key fob and is locked. Please call or email us with your questions first, and we can set up a time to meet. Thank you.

No. You are not working a job. You are a volunteer. We make it very clear to both the sites and volunteers that you are there to help, but not do anyone’s job. That means you are not photocopying papers, running errands, etc. Elder Mentors are there to spend time with the children one on one, but are never left with students unattended. You can view the Elder Mentor Service Track Sheet here.

You also choose the age level of students you wish to work with. You can choose Head Start through high school. If you aren’t sure which group you want to support, we will help navigate that process with you. 

As an Elder Mentor, you have summers off! If you wish to volunteer during summer school hours, we can find you an appropriate placement near where you live! 

Click here to fill out a Site Interest Form, or find the link in the menu on the top of this page. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Tell everyone you know about our programs! Post our Flyer in your community, share our AmeriCorps Seniors Booklet with your local school principal or Head Start, share our Facebook posts on your page, send our info to your local organizations and senior centers, and show this website to Elders you know. Have them call us! We have a small team that works tirelessly to run our two programs all over Alaska. Many Elders would benefit from our programs but simply don’t know about us. Help change that! The more you can do to spread the word, the better! We sincerely appreciate the support.