It was early spring 2020 when Senior Resources of Columbia, S.C., got a desperate phone call from California. The caller was concerned about an elderly family member in the area who had been stuck at home for weeks, with no one checking in. The senior was so isolated that she had begun eating her pet’s food.
Senior Resources, a nonprofit dedicated to helping seniors stay healthy and independent, sprang into action. Within 24 hours, it had stocked the individual’s pantry and gotten her started on a meal delivery program. “We needed to respond not just with tangible things,” recalls executive director Andrew Boozer, “But also with the reminder that somebody cared for her.”
Senior Resources has been caring for seniors in Columbia and surrounding Richland County for well over 50 years, providing nutritious meals and programs to help them age in place and in comfort. The agency administers the senior food delivery program Meals on Wheels in the region, plus offers food co-ops, transportation services and wellness centers, along with regular in-person check-ins.