Senior Center Best Practices

Managers, Directors and Center Personnel

Senior Center Best Practices

Category
Other

Senior Center/Nutrition Program/Organization Name
Lehigh County Senior Center

Address
1633 Elm Street Allentown, PA 18102

Phone Number
610-437-3700

E-Mail
rick@lehighseniors.org

Contact Person
Rick Daugherty

Event Name
Open Door policy

Description/Overview
Our Center has activities almost every night and every weekend. Most nights of the week our building is open until 10:00 p.m. or later. This is all accomplished by volunteers. There are also up to 15 community groups that meet at our Center. One member of each community group or Center volunteer assumes responsibility for the facility when they are here and the last person out is responsible for securing the facility.

Time and Manpower
An hour to orient a person who is provided a key to the facility. No additional paid staff necessary.

Marketing
N/A

Audience Served
Members and community groups that serve senior citizens.

Partnerships Utilized
With community groups.

Budget/Costs
None. Community groups are charged a nominal fee to use the Center.

Impact On Center
Greatly expands hours of operation and promotes goodwill among community groups who then can advocate on behalf of the Center.

Good Tips/Other
Make sure a staff member is accessible at all times via cell phone and is able to respond should problems arise. In the 15 years we have operated like this there has never been a serious issue or problem.