National Institute of Senior Centers

• Member Resources
• Standards & Accreditation
• Research & Promising Practices
• Join NISC

Resources

For Professionals

• Turn Old Cell Phones into Cash for Your Center
• Congratulations to Newly Accredited Heritage Center
• Awards Recognize National Leadership in Senior Centers
• Partnership Brings Free Dental Services to Seniors
• Meet Our Latest Accredited Centers
• Cutting Edge Resources for Meeting the Needs of LGBT Older Adults
• 2011 NISC Programs of Excellence Winners

For Older Adults and Caregivers

• Out of the Recliner and into Helping Others

For Advocates

• Sen. Sanders’ Older Americans Act Bill: What it Means for Senior Centers
• Out of the Recliner and into Helping Others

Senior Volunteers Provide Food to Families in Need

Winner: 2011 NISC Programs of Excellence Awards

Category: Leadership, Civic Engagement, and Community Development

Community Cupboard
Food Pantry

Description

The Community Cupboard team operates out of the Dallas L. Winchester Senior Center in Wabash, IN. Over the last eight years, the Cupboard operation has grown exponentially with volunteer leadership.

The team converted two offices in the senior center as pantries to serve the public, as well as the three-bus garage at the end of the senior center to serve as the Cupboard warehouse.

In 12 months, 3,695 unduplicated individuals in 1,017 households came to the senior center for food assistance; over 21,000 individuals were served through 6,295 visits in 12 months. The Cupboard Team volunteered more than 4,000 hours in this period.

The Community Cupboard is open Monday through Friday. Clients can come once a month. It takes three to four volunteers during pantry hours and a second team of two to six people after pantry hours to restock the shelves.

A retired manufacturing purchasing manager submits weekly orders to vendors. A volunteer delivery crew receives the orders in the garage warehouse. A retired engineer is part of the team and has used his CAD software to create a plan for consolidating the entire pantry operation into the garage.

In 12 months, these 40 volunteers distributed 223,258 pounds of food.

Results

In eight years, the program has grown from volunteers serving 50 to 75 households per month to close to 700 per month.

The entire community supported the effort with 35,980 pounds of donated food in 2010, as well as contributions to purchase another 129,210 pounds of food.

This senior center program enables senior volunteers to empower vulnerable individuals of all ages to live healthier lives. The community sees our seniors in action. This program is easily replicable.

• Number of staff/volunteers required to run program: 40 volunteers and 4 hours per week of staff time
• Revenue: $38,469 
• Expense: $32,303 
• Net: $6,166

Contact

Beverly Ferry
Dallas L. Winchester Senior Center
239 Bond St.
Wabash, IN 46992
beverlyf@livingwellinwabashcounty.org 

want to live in a country where

older adults don't have to worry about their senior center being closed.