Senior Center Best Practices

Managers, Directors and Center Personnel

Senior Center Best Practices

Category
Volunteer Projects, Intergenerational

Senior Center/Nutrition Program/Organization Name
Millersburg Area Senior Center

Address
109 Edward Drive, Millersburg, Pa. 17061

Phone Number
717-692-2657

E-Mail
mbgsr@comcast.net

Contact Person
Dharla Maiden

Event Name
Make A Difference

Description/Overview
In 2005 our Center joined "Warm up America" and "Linus", both national organizations, to create a program where volunteers make blankets for distribution to victims of natural disasters, nursing homes, battered women shelters, the homeless, and others less fortunate than ourselves. We have since expanded the project to include items such as hats for preemies and cancer victims, toys, and many other items as needs become known. Volunteers meet at the center Monday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. to knit, crochet, quilt, and socialize. Many also work on these projects at home. To date, over 3,000 items have been made and distributed basically within a 50 mile radius. Yarn and fabric donations are accepted and for the most part they have supplied our needs. Ideas to start this program have been shared with various other senior centers in Dauphin County. This wonderful program allows us the opportunity to recycle donations of fabric, yarn and craft items into happiness and comfort for those who receive them and to pass along a heritage by teaching these useful skills to younger generations. The center and many volunteers continue to work together through this program to Make a Difference in the lives of many.

Time and Manpower
2912 hours yearly by 27 persons

Marketing
Local newspapers and from participants and recipients

Audience Served
3,000 individuals

Partnerships Utilized
County Commissioners/United Way/ Bethesda Mission/ Shalom House/ Pinnachle Hospital/Danville Red Cross/etc.

Budget/Costs
office supplies & shipping / $200.00 annually

Impact On Center
Weekly attendance has grown with this additional program and has provided an opportunity for participants to feel needed and a sense that they are "making a difference". It has also provided an opportunity for younger generations to be involved so they will continuing to utilize centers in the future and encourage parents and grandparents to join now.

Good Tips/Other
Exciting Intergenerational program! Millersburg Area Senior Center. All ages invited!

* ---You want to learn how to knit?
* ---You know how to knit but have run out of projects?
* ---You no longer knit but have yarn and needles to donate?

A YES TO ANY OF THE ABOVE AND THIS PROGRAM IS FOR YOU!

The Center is starting a wonderful community service project in which YOU can make a difference. “Warm Up America!” is a nationwide program that uses 7”X 9” knitted or crocheted squares, sections are joined by individuals or groups in a community and donated locally or sent to the Foundations headquarters for joining and distribution. These afghans are than donated to victims of natural disasters, nursing homes, battered women shelters, the homeless, and others less fortunate than ourselves. ”Warm up America”! has been “wrapping people in warm blankets since 1992.” The success of this worthwhile program depends on your involvement. Let’s make our community proud and join in this worthwhile contribution!

* Beginners will learn to knit 8 different stitches over several weeks. An Instructor, written how to directions, along with volunteers to help you will make this a fun learning experience. Only cost will be the donation of one square for each learned pattern to be used in making our first afghan. Yarn will be provided and needles will be available. Bring size 8 needles if you have them.

* If you know how to knit and have run out of projects, come learn more about this exciting project, help our new students, or use this opportunity as a refresher course.

* We will need lots of needles and yarn so if you have been wondering where to find a good home for your supplies because you no longer knit, just drop them off at the Center or call and we will make arrangements to pick them up.

This is an opportunity to work together, make our community proud, and contribute to a worthwhile project.