Christopher Lugo - editor@highlandsnews.com
On March 8, the Macon County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution in recognition of the Crawford Senior Center volunteers.
Administrative officer Jennifer Hollifield with Macon County Senior Services said she couldn’t brag on the volunteers enough.
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollifield said they lost half of their volunteers.
“The volunteers that we were able to keep, along with the staff, have persevered and continued to serve the senior citizens in Macon County,” Hollifield said. “About half of our volunteers decided that it was a little too scary to get out and be delivering meals in homes, but those that remained are truly, truly to be commended. They have stuck it out for the last two years in not the best of circumstances.”
In the 2021 calendar year, volunteers donated 3,200 hours to Macon County Senior Services. In 2020, volunteers donated 4,300 hours.
“According to the independent sector, those hours are worth about $91,000 to Macon County,” Hollifield said. “These volunteers are truly an asset to Macon County. Without the commitment of these volunteers, there is no way that my staff could have delivered the meals, led ZOOM classes and helped seniors with open enrollment for the last year.”
With the SHIP program, the county has one paid employee and five volunteers. Hollifield said they counseled 676 individuals in 2021, contributing 400 hours.
Volunteers spent 820 hours in 2021 providing activities for seniors. Hollifield said home delivered meals remains a strong point in senior services. In 2021, volunteers gave 1,000 hours delivering meals.
“We did lose half of our drivers due to COVID-19,” Hollifield said. “Thanks to transit and my staff, they have been able to ensure these meals are still being delivered.”
In 2021, there were more than 10,000 meals delivered in Franklin and Highlands. At the congregate drive thru, 26,000 meals were handed out to 362 different recipients. In 2019, 11,000 meals were handed out.
“It has been a huge success for us,” Hollifield said. “There are not enough great things that I can say about our volunteers in our community. My role over senior services has been enhanced by having these volunteers.”
Commissioner Ronnie Beale said that a lot of times the volunteers are some of the only people the seniors see during the week.
“Especially during this pandemic, these volunteers have done a lot more than just deliver meals,” Beale said. “We are grateful for them.”
For more information about the Senior Center, call 349-2058.