West Chester Area Senior Center

ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OUR SENIOR NEIGHBORS THROUGH FRIENDSHIP, ACTIVITIES, EDUCATION AND NOURISHMENT.

DURING A TYPICAL YEAR, THE WEST CHESTER AREA SENIOR CENTER (WCASC) SERVES 2,000 - 2,500 OLDER ADULTS, AGES 60 - 100+ YEARS OLD, BY OFFERING CENTRALIZED ACCESS TO MEALS, GROCERIES, AND VITAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THROUGHOUT THE EXTENDED PANDEMIC OF THE LAST 2 YEARS, WCASC DISTRIBUTED OVER 260,000 MEALS FROM THE CENTER WHILE COLLABORATING WITH NUMEROUS LOCAL PARTNERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND VOLUNTEERS. SENIORS WERE ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THROUGH WCASC'S PROTECTED OUTDOOR DISTRIBUTION AREA WEEKLY TO RECEIVE FREE FROZEN PREPARED MEALS, FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUIT, DAIRY ITEMS LIKE MILK, CHEESE, AND YOGURT, PROTEINS INCLUDING CHICKEN, BEEF, AND FISH, AS WELL AS FRESH BREADS AND GRAINS, AND A MYRIAD OF SHELF STABLE ITEMS LIKE RICE, PASTA, SOUPS, BEANS, AND MORE. THE CENTER ADDITIONALLY SOURCED AND DISTRIBUTED HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS AND PET FOOD TO THE SENIORS THEY SERVE. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2021, THE CENTER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP KNEW THAT THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT THEY HAD OFFERED DURING THE PANDEMIC WOULD STILL BE NEEDED ONCE THE CENTER RE-OPENED SO WCASC LAUNCHED A SPECIAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO PLAN, CONSTRUCT, EQUIP, AND STOCK A PERMANENT ONSITE FOOD PANTRY INSIDE OF ITS BUILDING'S FOOTPRINT. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 400 SQ.FT. SPACE WAS COMPLETED AND OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2021 FULLY OUTFITTED WITH NEW REFRIGERATION AND FREEZER CAPACITY AS WELL AS SEVERAL HEAVY-DUTY MOBILE COMMERCIAL STEEL CARTS TO STORE AND DISPLAY FOOD, HOUSEHOLD, AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS WEEKLY. THE CENTER NOW CONTINUES ITS FREE WEEKLY SHOPPING/DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM INSIDE BY PROVIDING THE FREE MEALS AND ALL FOOD ITEMS AND PET FOOD LISTED ABOVE WITH THE AVERAGE SENIOR RECEIVING 40- 50 POUNDS OF FOODS WEEKLY. WHEN THE CENTER RE-OPENED IN EARLY 2022, REGULAR PROGRAMS AND ONSITE COMMUNITY MEAL SERVICE RESUMED AND THE CENTER LAUNCHED ITS INSIDE FREE MEAL AND GROCERY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM FROM THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED "CORNER CABINET" FOOD PANTRY. A WIDE ARRAY OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES WAS BEGUN INCLUDING EXERCISE, HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAMS, COMPUTER, NUTRITION, AND EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, CLUBS LIKE BAND AND SPANISH, FRENCH AND GERMAN, AS WELL AS INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, HELP WITH MEDICARE AND ANNUAL ENROLLMENT, AND MANY OTHER RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. WCASC'S MISSION IS "ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OUR SENIOR NEIGHBORS- AND THEY STRIVE TO DO SO BY ENSURING SENIORS RECEIVE THE NUTRITION, EDUCATION, AND ACCESS TO AS MANY RESOURCES AS POSSIBLE TO "AGE IN PLACE" BY MAINTAINING THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WCASC'S CONSISTENT AND LONG-TERM EFFICIENCY IS EVIDENT IN ITS OPERATIONS WITH .85 OF EVERY 1.00 BEING SPENT DIRECTLY ON HELPING THE COMMUNITY'S SENIORS. WCASC PARTNERED WITH OVER 300 VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHO CONTRIBUTED OVER 30,000 HOURS OF SERVICE WORKING ALONGSIDE THE VERY SMALL STAFF. PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE FOOD AND PROGRAM MATERIALS, UTILITIES AND ALL INSURANCE AND OCCUPANCY EXPENSES, AND DIRECTLY RELATED SUPPORTING SALARIES.