2011 Annual Report - Modern Maturity Center

Nutrition
No other MMC program impacts people’s lives
as much as the MMC Nutrition Program, the largest of the
Center’s activities. Behind the scenes, our staff prepares both
congregate and homebound meals for five additional sites in
Kent County – Milford Senior Center, Harrington Senior Center,
Mamie Warren Senior Center, Peach Circle and Luther Towers.
Once meals are prepared, they are packaged and delivered
by our food truck to the other nutrition sites. From there, an
army of volunteers, corporate and individual, collects and
delivers hundreds of meals a day to homebound clients.
“My mom started us when we were young serving seniors. We learned to love it and it
brought us joy. Our home was always that way. My mom was always welcoming people in and serving
them. We would laugh and eat and have a good time. I’ve always looked for jobs where I can serve. I like to see people
happy when they are being served – it’s happiness for them not to cook for themselves once in a while and have someone wait on
them. It makes me happy, too. I can laugh and have a good time with them like I did growing up. Everyone that comes through the line has
a different smile. That’s exciting to me.” – Yvonne Weaver
The Meals on Wheels program is a great example of how one small act can have a big impact. For many
clients, the delivery of their meal is the only human contact they may have in a day. In 2011, we delivered more
than 172,000 homebound meals.
“My job is with MANNA as an outreach worker and includes traveling to homes of those age 60 or older who need
services due to being homebound. Seeing my clients needs met inspires me. In 2003 I retired from the Salvation Army
in Wilmington, DE as a family services director. It has been a 25 plus year journey in social services. Every client is a
special human being to me and the Modern Maturity Center is the heart of where the needs of “seasoned” adults are
met.” - Bernice Murray
Our nutrition program reaches out by providing nutrition counseling and diabetes support groups. We
also reach a large number of people Kent County and neighboring areas through our dinner dances held
18-20 times a year. These evening events feature a buffet dinner and entertainment providing a welcome and
inexpensive opportunity for guests to socialize with friends.
Great opportunities to help others seldom come,
but small ones surround us every day. —Sally Koch
5 MMC ANNUAL REPORT 2011
MMC in the community
RSVP
As the sponsoring agency for RSVP in Kent County, our volunteers,
all over age 55 and nearly 1,000 strong, provide ample proof of the effect
of small acts of service. The impact of the 163,007 hours of service they
provided in 2011 translates in dollars to $2,445,105. But more than the
economic impact is the humanitarian impact. This army of volunteers,
delivered meals, mentored students, and entertained in nursing
homes. They aided blood banks, hospitals, museums and schools, as
well as environmental and homeland security efforts of city, county
and state agencies. They give their time and energy towards making
our community a better place. A generation of doers, they ignore
the arbitrary dictates of what society says seniors should be and are
making an indelible mark on society by paying forward what they
have learned.
“ I simply love coming to MMC. It is a wonderful place for people to
gather and find a warm, inviting and lively atmosphere. Most of all, they
have the opportunity to have fun together while learning something
new on a daily basis. I have had the privilege to come to MMC as a staff
member for 14 years and for me, I feel surrounded by an extended
family - this is my second home.” - Carol Lettieri, RSVP Volunteer Coordinator
SCSEP trainee, Sharon Lynch
SCSEP
Steppin’ Seniors
Every kind act, no matter how small, is like a pebble tossed into the pond
of human caring. The rings reach out far beyond the point of impact.
- Unknown
Employers in Kent County can benefit from the Senior Community Service
Employment Program for which MMC is the county sponsor. SCSEP staff work
to find employers who have jobs available for trained participants in addition to
businesses willing to hire subsidized trainees.
SCSEP provides services to unemployed persons age 55 or older who have
barriers to employment. Goals are to provide part time training opportunities
in support of community service activities and to transition participants to
unsubsidized jobs.
Employers benefit while employees gain on-the-job work experience and
training. The program provides subsidized wages, a yearly physical, workshops to
hone job-seeking skills, referrals and counseling. We served 76 clients in 2011.
“What motivates me in my job is assisting seniors that are eligible for the training-to-work
program. I search for jobs, help them apply, set up interviews with employers and encourage
them to believe in themselves and have the right attitude. The reward I receive is reading their
success stories and knowing I was instrumental in helping them achieve their goal.” - Sara
Williams, SCSEP Job Development Specialist
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