Dorchester Seniors: Still Making Strides during the Pandemic

Dorchester Seniors, Inc, a non-profit organization based in Summerville and St. George, has been working through the COVID-19 pandemic, providing meals to seniors across Dorchester County. From March to May, Dorchester Seniors has distributed 23,183 meals, and still has six days remaining in the month with meal deliveries.

Dorchester Seniors prepares all meals within the Summerville location and distributes them out at both centers via the home delivered meal program. Monday through Friday each week, seniors receive a hot nutritious meal, 1/3 RDA approved, and two additional meals for the weekend. Currently, Dorchester Seniors has 12 routes delivering meals, nine in Summerville and three in St. George. “Having the ability to provide daily personal contact through this isolation period is very important,” stated Jean K. Ott, Executive Director, “that is why we have decided to continue daily meal delivery rather than one delivery weekly.” This allowed Dorchester Seniors to assist seniors with basic needs such as toiletry items, nonperishables, and paper products through the pandemic. The organization is proud to say following CDC guidelines and safety protocol, they have remained open through the COVID-19 closures.

Through closings due to social distancing and quarantine, Dorchester Seniors has followed CDC guidelines on contactless deliveries for seniors at home. Partnering with LowCountry Food Bank, Joy Campbell and I Serve With Joy, and Trident Area on Aging, Dorchester Seniors has been able to provide commodity boxes, cereal, and nutritional education to seniors while they are safe at home. “The greatest of all things,” says Ott, “is our dedicated volunteers, who have assisted with packing meals and delivering them in the community during this time.”

Remaining cautious, the Summerville location has opened to limited public for wellness and fitness classes. These classes are practicing social distancing and must be enrolled through the 50+ Fit program. With group dining not being available, Dorchester Seniors is still providing meals to seniors through their homebound meal program weekly and are always looking for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer in the Summerville or St. George area, please call (843) 871-5053.

Due to the amount of seniors being served during this pandemic, anyone can donate items to Dorchester Seniors through Amazon Smile and their website wish list at www.dorchesterseniors.com .

ABOUT DORCHESTER SENIORS, INC.

Our Mission is to provide opportunities to all senior citizens of Dorchester County to enhance their educational, mental, social, spiritual and physical wellbeing.

To achieve this goal Dorchester Seniors, Inc. will work cooperatively with other community agencies and organizations through advocacy for senior citizens and interagency coordination including outreach assessing needs and planning actions.

To learn more or make a donation: DorchesterSeniors.com