It was early spring 2020 when Senior Resources of Columbia, South Carolina, 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. Senior Resources, a nonprofit dedicated to helping seniors stay healthy and independent, sprang into action. Within 24 hours, it had stocked her pantry and set up meal deliveries. “We needed to respond not just with tangible things,” recalls executive director Andrew Boozer, “but also with the reminder that somebody cared.”
Senior Resources has been looking after 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, and it offers food co-ops, transportation services and wellness centers, along with regular in-person check-ins.