Managers, Directors and Center Personnel

Senior Center Best Practices

Category
Marketing Your Center, Nutrition Events

Senior Center/Nutrition Program/Organization Name
The Brockwayville Depot

Address
351 Alexander Street, Brockway, PA 15824

Phone Number
None Given

E-Mail
None Given

Contact Person
None Given

Event Name
Breakfast at the Depot

Description/Overview
The Senior Center in Brockway, Pennsylvania is called “The Brockwayville Depot,” and is located in an old train station that was built in 1913. This was the 2nd train station in Brockwayville; the first was actually built in 1880 and was a small wooden building that sat about 200 feet from the depot’s current location. “Brockwayville” was the name of the town up until 1924, when the name was shortened to Brockway.

The Brockwayville Depot transported people in passenger trains until 1955 and then was solely used to transport freight until about 1980. With the exception of being used for storage, the building sat empty until 2002, when the Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging purchased the building from the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad. It was then renovated and made into the community/senior center of Brockway and was named the “Brockwayville Depot.”

In Brockway, the center name has been fondly shortened to the “Depot,” even though the outside of the building has the full name on its wall. When anyone mentions the Depot in Brockway, the locals know exactly what is being talked about. This brand recognition is due in part to the fabulous made-to-order breakfasts that are served each Tuesday morning from 7am to 9am to the public; which leads to the Creative Meal & Nutrition part of this success story.

In 2006, breakfast started to be served at the Depot. Apparently, the center director at the time came into work and playfully asked one of the center volunteers to make her breakfast… and he did. This is where the idea came from…

Time and Manpower
Initially, there were 3 volunteers involved in getting the breakfasts ready for anyone who wanted breakfast on Tuesday mornings and at first they only had 10 – 15 senior citizens stopping to eat.

In 2010, there are at least 8 – 10 regular and dedicated volunteers who come in to cook, serve, bus tables and do clean up every week. The daily number of people who come in for breakfast each week has risen to an average of 75. There are people of all ages that come in now – even kids that eat before they go to school – although the main group is people 60 years and older.

Marketing
None Given

Audience Served
Seniors

Partnerships Utilized
None Given

Budget/Costs
None Given

Impact On Center
Increase the sense of community ownership of this “Senior Center,”

Good Tips/Other
None Given

E-Mail
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