Senior Center Best Practices

Managers, Directors and Center Personnel

Senior Center Best Practices

Category
Marketing Your Center, Volunteer Projects, Community Event, Money Making Ideas

Senior Center/Nutrition Program/Organization Name
Schuylkill Haven Senior Resource Center

Address
121 E. Main St. (Rear Entrance)

Phone Number
(570) 385-5611

E-Mail
readingp@diakon.org

Contact Person
Patricia Reading

Event Name
Apple Dumpling Sale

Description/Overview
Taking of orders, making and sale of apple dumplings.

Time and Manpower
On apple dumpling day we start at 8:00a.m., ending time depends on how many orders we receive. We have between 3 and 7 volunteers on any given day. Sales and shopping are done in advance of the project, also sorting of apples and getting supplies in order. On sales day we do all the prep and baking, packing and delivery, or people come to the center to pickup. This brings people into the center who were never here before.

Marketing
Flyers in the community and word of mouth are the way we have been marketing.

Audience Served
None Given

Partnerships Utilized
Businesses in the downtown area and local banks.

Budget/Costs
We do get donations of apples and other supplies, this project cost between $20-$40 depending on how many sold. The center sells the dumplings for $2.50 each, and we make between $150 and $250 again depending on orders.

Impact On Center
Center participants get a dumpling for themselves on the day they are made. This helps with sales by center clients telling people how good they are, and it is a small extra for the people who volunteer.

Good Tips/Other
This project started very small and has grown little by little each time we make them, one personal care center in the area keeps asking when we are going to make them again.