Statements
Mission
The Hendersonville Senior Center is a single-purpose agency designed and operated for the benefit of persons age 50 and above. They provide the facility, equipment, programming and knowledge to enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of those age 50 and above in the Hendersonville and surrounding community by strengthening mind, body and spirit!
Background
The Center was organized by a group of government and community leaders and chartered in 1986. For several years, they met at a local retirement community, at members' homes and at local breakfast spots to relax, play a game of cards or just to chat about goings-on in the community. Realizing the immediate need for a "home," the group of organizers worked tirelessly to locate such a place where this could all be accomplished under one roof. Working to renovate an old school building that was owned by the City with their time, talents, labor and love; and through their hard work and dedication they provided a safe environment where seniors could come to enjoy socialization with their peers, participate in health and wellness-related activities and classes, learn about medical and health issues, travel with other seniors and participate in a wide range of activities that engage them mentally, physically an emotionally.
SCHI provides a support structure for seniors in the Hendersonville community who want and/or need a safe and inviting place where they can enjoy socialization, friendship and activities. Living in a highly technical and fast-paced world, many seniors retire to their homes or move to a community and find themselves alone, oftentimes without the benefit of family living close-by. SCHI provides opportunities to find and make friends, develop new skills or hone old ones, enjoy wellness (physical exercise) and activities, engage the mind and participate in programs that build awareness and are educational on many topics related to senior citizens. One program we are most proud of is our Telephone Reassurance Program, as it offers tremendous comfort and support to senior members of our community who may have had an illness and need a reassuring call or two, to those home bound seniors to try and ensure they have adequate services to meet their changing needs, or to the neighbor of a member who may just need to hear a friendly voice.
Impact
What the Center does for the seniors in this community is tremendously impactful to the degree that it is truly immeasurable. Until the pandemic hit and the forced closing of so many senior centers in the State of Tennessee, our impact had not yet been discovered. Upon the modified re-opening (after almost 11 months of being closed), members literally cried tears of joy and hugged staff proclaiming their gratitude in our opening and how much our programs meant to them! Now that is impact!!
Due to her work as a senior advocate and a non-profit professional, for the past few years the President/CEO has been nominated as a 'Woman Impacting the Community' in the non-profit category by her peers in the Hendersonville community. Of the thousands of women who could have been nominated, Ms. White was one of only 26 nominees. This speaks to how well she administrates the Senior Center and their standing in the community under her leadership. in 2023, she was humbled and honored to have this award bestowed upon her.
In 2014, several hundred members left the Center, for whatever reason. Since that time, there has been an increase of over 50% in membership and continued growth. It is the goal of the Center to continue to provide programming that offers seniors in the community an opportunity to remain actively involved through physical, mental, and emotional support, by adding continuing to add classes and activities of their choosing. By doing so, there is collaboration with retirement centers, churches and other type organizations to provide seniors with limited driving ability opportunities to visit other towns and states, and travel beyond their living rooms. this goal also helps to promote volunteer opportunities for seniors through educational flyers and presentations. Additionally, SCHI strives to be the resource referral center in this community, by working with Retirement Communities, Assisted Living Facilities, Doctors, Rehab Centers, Hospitals, Home Health Agencies, etc. to help provide those searching for answers a wealth of information so they may make a more informed decision about their needs. The culmination of this goal is to be as diverse ethnically and racially as possible in this community. Fast forward to the fiscal year 2021-22 (closed on June 30, 2022), not only was the goal to increase membership by 5% (a very conservative goal due to Covid), but it was surpassed and greatly so. For the period of July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022, they projected 56 new members and gained 158 new members, a 12% increase! For 2023, they are on the fast track to supercede 2022's numbers! This makes a HUGE impact in the Hendersonville and surrounding community.
The importance of our outreach to EVERYONE in this community is immense so that our impact is more powerful and long-lasting.
Needs
(1) The center has grown so much and is almost out of space for expansion of programs. This is a GREAT problem to have, but it is a problem, nonetheless! There is need for additional classrooms, office space and exercise/community rooms. Funding for this is greatly needed. (2) One of the biggest challenges is funding for an additional staff person to help with administrative things to work an approximate 15 hour work week at $10/hr, plus payroll taxes. (3) Funding to assist with educational programs on health, safety, and medical needs of senior citizens, which we estimate would cost $2,500.
Other needs we foresee are for instructors for things like art classes, language classes and exercise classes that are either on a volunteer basis or at a very low cost.
CEO Statement
We have a jewel in our community that many don't even realize exists! It is my goal to change that and engage varying age levels so that years down the road, those who are not seniors now will be aware of the much-needed services and activities we provide to this community. We have a team of skilled, knowledgeable and compassionate staff and volunteers and I cannot say enough about the importance of volunteers. Attributed to the success of any non-profit organization are their volunteers and they truly are the life-blood of ours. As the President/CEO, I salute and commend them all for the devotion, dedication and hard work they do on behalf of our senior citizens and our Center. We know that because of them, we are truly making a difference in the lives of the seniors in our community.
Our Center is used by seniors from within the city limits and planning region of Hendersonville and the Sumner County community. In addition to our wonderful volunteer base, we would not be able to accomplish any of this without the necessary funding required to make an organization such as this work. We commend the Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Sumner County Commissioners for their contributions to our success, as well as the United Way of Sumner County and their many benevolent givers. They not only acknowledge the growing number of seniors, but also understand the growing needs of them, and also possess the compassion to work to put the infrastructure.
Board Chair Statement
As a business owner in Hendersonville and a member of The Senior Citizen of Hendersonville, Inc., I have been honored and blessed to serve on the Board of Directors, and have been recently elected as the Board Chair again, after a few years off. This organization provides much needed services to our wonderful senior population including classes, fellowship, trips, and meals. We strive to maintain a safe, thriving, and well-funded center for all our seniors to enjoy and one of which they can be proud. The past few years have been been difficult for all concerned (due to Covid and the closings), but we are so grateful for the opportunity to implement all our former programs and be fully open, as well as moving forward with new ones to meet the needs of our members.
We are so fortunate to have a dynamic staff along with a hard working board which will lead the Center into the future with long-range plans, but flexible enough to ensure needs and opportunities are met as they arise. This happened during the past year, when the CEO established an ongoing program to contact the members. Many were shut in and had no other outside contact. We endeavor to continue building financial partners and community awareness as our senior population grows in the community. We are strategically positioned to serve this group of citizens as the need for a vibrant, affordable place for them to enjoy will continue to increase into the future.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Senior Centers/Services |
| Secondary Category: | Recreation & Sports - Physical Fitness/Community Recreational Facilities |
| Tertiary Category: | Health Care - Alliances & Advocacy |
Areas Served
Hendersonville, Sumner County 37075, Gallatin, Sumner County 37066, Goodlettsville, Sumner and Davidson Counties 37072, White House, Sumner and Robertson Counties 37188, Westmoreland, Sumner County 37186, Bethpage, Sumner County 37022. The vast majority of our membership comes from within Hendersonville. For whatever reason, people also come from other parts of Sumner County and a few from Robertson and the Goodlettsville portion of Davidson due to its proximity in closeness to Hendersonville.
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Robertson |
