Lake City Senior Center, South Carolina
The
Senior Citizens Association in Florence County (SCA) is the parent organization of the Lake City
Senior Center. Chartered in 1968, Senior Citizens Association is a private,
non-profit agency mission is to provide a full range of services to the
County’s senior citizens.
Lake
City is located 24 miles from Florence, an urban area centered in Florence
County, SC. Currently, Florence County’s population is estimated to be 136,885
and Lake City’s population is 6,675, based on US Census Bureau data.
On
July 9, 2003, thirty-six (36) local citizens attended the hearing to secure a
senior center in the community. On November 18, 2006, the Lake City Senior
Center’s dedication took place. The
building is a 7,000 sq. ft. building on a one and one-half acre site in the
downtown area of Lake City. The Lake City Senior Center membership over 400 and
the average daily attendance is 150. The center is open Monday through Friday
from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, and periodically opens in the evening for special
events. Normally, there is an average of 4-5 activities offered each day
ranging from meal program, exercise, computer lab, bingo, arts/craft,
educational seminars, etc. The age range
of participants is 55-85 and primarily more females are in attendance than
males.
The
Lake City Senior Center receives municipality financial support to operate the
Senior Center. The County funds are
directed through the City of Lake City for the operations and maintenance of
the building. The administrative structure
is the responsibility of SCA where the Senior Center Coordinator, Receptionist,
Site Manager and drivers fall under the parent organization. The Lake City
Senior Center’s primary funding sources are Florence County, City of Lake City,
Older Americans Act Funding Title III, the South Carolina Lt. Governor’s Office
on Aging, United Way, membership fees, and donations.
The
peer reviewer noted the following strengths of the center;
- The center is a safe and active place
with City support for the facility, a caring community and staff who love their
work and work well together. - An excellent evaluation process
developed which could be a Best Practice. - The center is meeting the needs of
seniors in a lower income area. - Having a specific marketing position is
a bonus for outreach and fundraising. - Center’s collaborations are many and
benefit seniors.
Marshfield Senior Center, Massachusetts
The
town of Marshfield is located in Southeastern Massachusetts in Plymouth County.
Marshfield is a suburban coastal community 30 miles south of Boston. Marshfield has a yearly population of 25,525
residents. The population swells to 40,000 in the summer months. 24% of the residents are 60 years of age or
older. The town has a three-member Board
of Selectman, a Town Administrator and
an open town meeting structure.
The
Marshfield Senior Center is a community focal point for resources and
activities for older people, volunteers and caregivers. The center opened its
door in 1957 in the American Legion Hall and moved to its current location in
2003. In 2018 the center served 2,205
different people and provided volunteer opportunities for 297 residents. The
center serves 188 individuals on an average day. 27% of the participants are under age 70,
49.5% are between the ages of 70-79, 20% are 80-89 and 4% are over 80 years
old. Older adults from 40 different communities participate in Marshfield
programs each year.
The
center has 16 full and part time employees, two senior aides and 60 volunteers.
The volunteers provide the work of 18 full time equivalents.
The
center offers 45 Lifelong Learning classes a year, 63 educational, recreational
and wellness fitness programs, shuttle bus transportation, congregate and home
delivered meals, numerous support groups, information and referral, advocacy,
financial programs, and Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly activities such as
the Memory Café.
Center
volunteers provide staffing for fuel assistance applicants, the SHINE Program, referrals, advocacy and
benefits and legal assistance.
Fifty-one
community residents volunteered to participate in the accreditation
process. This diverse group was
comprised of town officials, community leaders, center staff, volunteers and
participants and board members. The
committee met monthly for more than a year. Committee members in general were
surprised by the scope of the center’s programming and as result participation
at the center increased.
The
peer reviewer found the following strengths of the center:
- Detailed Plan and moving forward with accomplishments
- Tax Relief Program-Best Practices
- Strong community partnerships
- Invested board member and very active Boosters Club
- Talented staff with strong leadership.
- Volunteer contribution is notable
- Strong Social Service programs and a wide variety of Lifelong
Learning and Health and Wellness Programs - Town support is very strong
- Center is an attractive, welcoming facility and leaders
commissioned a study to address the growing senior population
Involve your community leaders in the accreditation process and increase your membership through the national accreditation and the self-assessment process. Learn how the National Senior Center Standards and self-assessment process can help you achieve excellence at your center.
The post Congratulations to two senior centers on achieving National Accreditation in November 2019 appeared first on NCOA.
