(This success story took place while employed as the Franklin County 4-H Agent)

Extension and Community Involvement

The Capital City Activity Senior Center in Frankfort provides daily meals and resources to hundreds of senior citizens, 60 years old and above and who are unable to prepare meals for themselves in Franklin County.  In March of 2020, the senior center closed their building due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing the Director to scramble in finding enough people to deliver meals and resources to the hundreds of senior citizens who utilized the center.  Therefore, the Franklin County Extension Agents stepped in to help!  

For the last two years, the Franklin County Extension Agents have delivered meals three days a week to assist in the need of meal drivers.  There have been over 1500 meals prepared and delivered from the Capital City Activity Center since March of 2020.  As the Extension Service continues to collaborate with the Capital City Activity Center during this time, the Extension Agents have expanded the informational flyer that had been provided to each senior to include a packet of information; the packet is included with the Senior Center newsletter that is delivered once a month with their meal.  This has been an excellent way to introduce the various resources, programs our office provides, and introduce ways seniors can stay active and healthy while at home.  

The Capital City Activity Center continues to see an increase of senior citizens needing meals delivered because of the close of their building. This need has been essential in our community and the collaboration with the center has been remarkable. Simply delivering meals, resources and information to the senior citizens has been a great experience as many are alone with no family, except for those they consider family at the senior center.  The smiles and simple, thank you from the senior citizens each week is enough to make a not so good day, great and remind the agents how important community involvement is.