My Nonprofit Reviews

I was an employee of the Shepherd Center for 6 years and saw first hand the impact that this agency had on the community. As I served as the Volunteer Coordinator I was able to see how the Meals on Wheels program provided nutrition to the home-bound clients but more importantly the personal contact of encouragement and friendship the volunteers provided to the clients. For some clients this was the only daily contact that they had for many days each week. This program also brought great personal satisfaction and purpose to the volunteer drivers as well.

The Adventures and Learning Program is a great example of what active older adults can plan/organize for their peers that is intellectually challenging as well as socially fun and explore community awareness.

The Senior Companion Program which I was the director of for 4 years until I retired, is currently being threatened of losing it's federal funding. This is a very unique program that serves the Senior Companion Volunteer by providing purpose to serve the community and receive a very small stipend for the 15 - 40 hours of service each week. For the client that the Senior Companion Volunteer serves they benefit from the friendship, the assistance that they need to live independently and the peace of mind that someone is with them to encourage them to eat and exercise each day. For the clients families this program allows the family members to continue to work or go back to school and provide respite for them. Since this is the only Senior Program in the Greater Kansas City area it is no surprise that the requests for a Senior Companion to assist a client and their family is much greater than what the Program can provide; there is a long waiting list of clients and their families needing assistance.

The programs that the Shepherd Center provide reach so many older adults of many ages and levels of need. The programs are well managed and strengthens our community. It is for these reasons I recently agreed to serve on the Board of the Shepherd Center so that I can do my part in supporting an organization that I strongly believe is valuable and needed.