Released: May 15, 2023
As part of the County’s efforts during Older Americans Month, Delaware County Council members Dr. Monica Taylor, Christine Reuther, and Richard Womack were excited to join Delaware County Sheriff Jerry L. Sanders, Jr., PA Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) Director Barbara Nicolardi, State Rep. Leanne Krueger, and other elected officials and community leaders assisted with meal deliveries to homebound seniors during a week-long celebration of Senior Community Services (SCS) — Delaware County’s oldest and largest provider of community-based and in-home services to the county’s older adults.
Each morning, officials and leaders gathered at various SCS senior centers throughout Delaware County to meet with staff and volunteers before heading out on delivery runs. Roughly 100 volunteers — many of whom are seniors themselves —contribute to SCS’ impressive program.
SCS Executive Director Arthur Weisfeld welcomed the extra helping hands, noting, “It is a pleasure to have Speaker McClinton, Rep. Krueger, Council President Taylor, Councilwoman Reuther and Councilman Womack with us as we kick off our agency-wide celebration of Older Americans Month. We urge everyone to do what they can to make Delaware County a great county where people can age in place.”
SCS provides roughly 125,000 free meals to Delaware County seniors each year, with roughly 500 residents participating in the program and receiving a varying number of meals each week. COSA, in-turn, provides funding for the program and SCS activities and programs (senior centers and associated activities look to COSA for approximately 50% of their spending).
Residents interested in applying for the meal program complete a preliminary intake process with COSA that assesses the individual’s finances, health, and ability to manage activities of daily living. If, at the end of that process, the individual is found eligible for meals, COSA notifies SCS and puts the person on the schedule and deliveries begin within 24 hours.
SCS works with a local caterer, BTC Foods/The Nutrition Group, to provide meals per special requests from consumers, such as kosher meals, low-salt meals, no pork/vegetarian meals, soft foods/puree meals, etc. SCS also has a nonprofit affiliate, SSMG, that manages the meal program county-wide, meeting the needs of Surrey Services’ Delaware County consumers, and consumers in Upper Darby.
Despite the impressive roster of volunteers, SCS currently has a need for drivers, packers, and runners. SCS delivers meals Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, typically between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Drivers/runners are eligible for a free lunch at the senior center after their drive, and SCS reimburses drivers of a per-mile basis for the use of their vehicles. Prospective volunteers are required to submit to a criminal background check prior to receiving training/assignments.
Delaware County acknowledges the hard work of the SCS staff, led by Arthur Weisfeld, Executive Director, Jamee Nowell Smith, Associate Director/Director of the Chester Senior Center, Karen Clark, Manager of Good Neighbor Senior Center, John Federico, Director of Advancement; Jessica Hadfield, Director of the Schoolhouse Center, and Christine Helmandollar, Director of the Friendship Circle.
For more information about SCS, visit SCS’ website at www.scsdelco.org and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube).
Senior Community Services, Inc. was founded in 1977 with a mission of providing independent and meaningful living for older adults through direct services and programs in the home and community. SCS is a community-based organization that operates four nationally-accredited senior centers and an innovative Center Without Walls, provides nearly 150,000 congregate and home-delivered meals, and manages long-term care and caregiver support for nearly 2,000 older Delaware County residents annually.