Brattleboro Senior Meals
Annual Report – 2010
This past year we have made excellent progress towards tackling some of the major stumbling blocks in continuing to run a successful nonprofit organization.
Accomplishments of 2010
During the 6th year of full service, BSM has continued to provide congregate dining for senior citizens 5 days a week at the Brattleboro Senior Center during the noon hour. The Home Delivered Meals program also continues to be in high demand .We have also utilized funding from VCIL to serve disabled people under 60. We currently run home delivered meals in Brattleboro, Guilford, Dummerston, Marlboro and Vernon. Providing meals to the growing adult day care program, (The Gathering Place), five days a week adds a component to our program which is not seen in other Senior Meal Providers in this state. This year we have added a breakfast program on Tuesday mornings
43,047 meals were served during fiscal 2010. 19,726 to Meals on Wheels clients; 3,627 to those clients under 60; 6,689 meals to TGP and 1,918 contracted from Vernon Green.
These figures represent 2,238 more meals served then 2010
Major Accomplishments
2010 Grant Activity
· Ann Pinkerton Charitable Trust Grant- received $500
· Periwinkle Foundation Grant- received $1500
· Grant from Entergy $1000
· Senior Center Earmark in collaboration with the Town of Brattleboro for kitchen improvements- $10,500
Special Events
· Thanksgiving Luncheon
· Holiday Dinner
· Grand’s Day
· Volunteer Recognition
Donations received include
· $1,000 sponsorship from Entergy for Volunteer Recognition
· Over $2000 in unsolicited donations
· Received money in honor of Calvin Strom, in memory of Bob Lapham, in memory of Cynthia Fairchild for a total of $150
Fund Raising Activities included
· Our 5th annual Appeal raised $5445
· Dance for Healthy Aging raised $2080
· Clothing sales netting $445
· Feinstein Challenge -$270
New Equipment
· Purchased a new exhaust fan in collaboration with the Recreation Department
· Trauslen Freezer to replace frozen meal freezer
· Thermostat for Convection oven to replace broken one
· Additional high tech light weight delivery bags
· New Digital Imager
New Programs
· Nutrition Blog developed on website (www.brattleboroseniormeals.org)
In Kind Donations
· Grafton Cheese
· Mike Morton
· Vermont Bread
· Nissan Bakery
· Brattleboro Food Coop
· Black River Produce
· Walker Farm
· Foodbank Gleaning Program
· Local Businesses and individuals donated 80 prizes for Dance for Healthy Aging Raffle
Volunteers
· Over 170 volunteers assisted with the meal programs.
· Meal Drivers logged 4,000 hours and have driven over 16,000 miles to deliver meals.
· Kitchen, dining room and center volunteers have logged over 5600 hours
· Brattleboro Senior Meals Board of Directors logged close to 500 hours
· RSVP recruited 3 new volunteers this past year
· Volunteer recognition and appreciation luncheon was held in April and included gifts for all volunteers in the program
· Volunteer Handbook redone
Out reach
· Nutrition Display by Board Members at BMH Health Fair
· Meal and Meeting Space provided for Rescue, Inc
· Meal and Meeting Space provided for AARP
Staff Support Activities
· 1 staff member became certified in Serve Safe
· 1 regional senior nutrition conferences attended with a board member
· In-service offered for staff and volunteers on Sexual Harassment
· Developed Employee Orientation Package
Challenges of 2010
· Maintaining active fund raising sources and securing new sponsors
· Dealing with the influx of new clients
· Maintaining Volunteer Pool
Goals for 2011
· Continue to work with in our budget to serve the nutritional needs of the Senior Population according to the guidelines of the Older American’s Act.
· Recruit more volunteers to deliver meals
· Increase fund raising goal by $2000
· Up grade telecommunications system
· Work with the town in maintaining a welcoming, safe and sanitary space for the senior meals program