Kit Racette

Kit Racette, an RSVP volunteer since 1997, has become a dynamic and vital part of our volunteer family. When asked to visit a frail elderly woman from Conshohocken, Kit responded to the request and went above and beyond the call of duty as an Eldercare Volunteer.

She drove her client to doctors’ appointments, helped her organize her house and paperwork, advocated for her to receive available benefits and even assisted with a family crisis. It was Kit who made funeral arrangements when this client passed away. Kit’s energy, compassion and patience were endless.

Kit didn’t stop her commitment to seniors with the Eldercare Program –trained to be a volunteer Ombudsman for Montgomery County Office on Aging and Adult Services; she visited nursing homes to ensure that residents’ concerns were addressed.

In addition, Kit has put her organizational and computer skills to work in our offices. She has spent countless hours preparing the Central Area Newsletters and even our recognition luncheon program booklet.

Kit is presently a major member of our Special Events Committee. She is organizing and implementing trips, dances, fashion shows, and other fundraising events.

As a vital member of the Central Area Action Committee, Kit showed her leadership qualities once again. This committee was organized to assist RSVP’s Central Area Field Coordinator recruit volunteers, 55 and older, and provide opportunities for them to pursue their interest and use their abilities to help meet critical human needs of Montgomery County.

One of her endeavors has been a unique opportunity through our Literacy program. Kit goes the Norristown Public Library to teach Spanish to the librarians in order to help them better serve their primarily Hispanic community.

She is leading monthly “Reminiscence” sessions at assisted living and nursing homes and has joined the Response program, which supports emergency preparedness in our local communities. She is part of the VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), which is a collaborative effort with the Red Cross.

Her sterling dedication and commitment have enabled us to be fortunate enough to have Kit as a current member of our Board of Directors.

Aside from her volunteer activities, Kit runs two businesses from her home. She and her husband, Paul, have two children and one grandchild.

Kit’s passion is “helping people live their lives as fully as they can” and she has demonstrated her commitment to that passion over and over again. The staff at RSVP all agree, “Kit is a pleasure to work with and you know that if she takes on a job, it will be done and done well!” It is for these reasons that she deserves to be recognized.

Currently mentoring two girls through our Protégé program, Kit spends quality time helping the girls with their parenting skills and serves as a great role model. One of the goals of the program is to help the girls stay in school. In fact one of the girls is headed for college.

Kit has also been involved in our emergency preparedness program, RESPONSE, since it was created in 2001. The mission of this program is to help community members be more prepared for any emergency that may arise. She has undergone training, makes presentations and runs mock drills.