The organization, known by the initials RSVP, builds a bank of volunteers and matches them with nonprofit groups. And despite a healthy pool of volunteer talent, the communities have more need than volunteers to fill it.

"RSVP tends to be the best-kept secret around, but we're one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation," said Liz Needham, volunteer services coordinator of RSVP in Wake County.

There are 17 RSVP programs across the state, including ones in Durham, Harnett, Orange and Wake counties. The programs are financed by a combination of local and federal dollars. In Wake County, the group's local support comes from the city of Raleigh. In Orange County, it's from the county government, and Durham Technical Community College is the partner in Durham.

RSVP serves as a sort of human resources office for the volunteers, whose interests and skills are matched with job descriptions written by nonprofit organizations. The process allows volunteers and nonprofits to find a good fit and takes a lot of the headache out of volunteering, said Linda Crawford, director of the Durham program.

Retired volunteers have much to offer, Crawford said.

"People still have a lot of skills," she said. "People have a lot of knowledge, and Durham's community has a lot of need."

In Orange County, the program has plenty of need for volunteers, said Vicki Hill, assistant director of the RSVP of Orange County. Volunteers are placed with organizations such as the Botanical Garden, the Literacy Council and Meals on Wheels. Volunteers tutor in prisons or schools.

There are usually scores of positions available. Current opportunities in Orange County include a coordinator for a film series, a computer tutor for Spanish-speakers and a position coordinating volunteers for a cancer support center.

There are 7,758 participants in RSVP throughout North Carolina. The programs statewide have a $1.1 million budget and volunteers work with more than 1,200 groups, according to a Web site run by the Corporation for National & Community Service, which is RSVP's parent organization. The programs are run through Senior Corps, which includes a foster grandparent program and a senior companion program.