Community Chest Spotlight: Sewanee Senior Center

The 2012–13 Sewanee Community Chest Fund Drive is underway. The power of the people helping people makes a difference in the life of the community. Sponsored by the Sewanee Civic Association, the Community Chest raises money for local charitable organizations serving the area. This year’s goal is $90,000.

For the next few weeks, the Messenger will focus on some of the organizations supported by the Community Chest. This week we shine the spotlight on the Sewanee Senior Center.

Sewanee Senior Citizens Inc. is a nonprofit organization. It began in 1978 with state funds from Title V for building renovations. Volunteers completed the work on the building. Part of the director’s salary at that time was paid from Franklin County Senior Citizens’ funding. Meals were offered through the state’s Nutrition Program (Title VII).

In 1997 the satellite relationship with Franklin County Senior Citizens’ became tenuous when the board voted to cease contributing to the director’s salary. The Sewanee Community Chest increased its donation. An anonymous donor remained committed to matching funds, and the Center survived.

In September 2002, the Senior Center was excluded from the state’s Nutrition Program. Meals were available again in October 2002, when Lena McBee and Frances Lappin prepared food at home and brought it to the center for distribution. Because of their efforts and the funds received from the Franklin County Commission and the Sewanee Community Chest, the Center now has a part-time cook. This part-time cook works 25 hours per week and prepares more than 6,000 meals each year. 

With increases in the cost of utilities and other services, the Center can no longer afford a director. Volunteers now handle all of those duties. In addition to meals for seniors and shut-ins, the Center provides various activities, which are scheduled weekly for 50 to 60 seniors and other members of the 

community.

The Senior Center relies on the Community Chest for approximately 27 percent of its operating budget. Their income last year totaled $49,000. Current funding for the Center comes from the Franklin County Commission, the Sewanee Community Chest, bake sales, individual donations and an annual Christmas bazaar. Expenses last year totaled $52,000. The Center’s greatest expense is in food purchases of approximately $23,900 per year. 

For more information, contact the Center at 598-0771 or drop by for a visit at 5 Ball Park Rd. The Center always welcomes visitors and volunteers. This year’s Christmas Bazaar will be held Dec. 10–14, with sewn items, crafts, baked goods, canned goods, white elephant items and other gifts for Christmas giving.

The goal of the Sewanee Community Chest is to help citizens by funding the community. Donations to the Community Chest can be mailed any time to P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375. Donations are also accepted through PayPal. Go to the PayPal website, select “transfer,” then “send someone money;” when prompted, enter the email address <sewaneecommunitychest@gmail.com>. For more information, contact <sewaneecommunitychest@gmail.com>.

[Editor’s Note: The Sewanee Mountain Messenger was founded in part by the Sewanee Civic Association; however, the Messenger no longer requests Community Chest funding.]