The Leon Levine Foundation awards $45,000 grant to Senior Resources to provide nutritional support and resources to vulnerable seniors

Senior Resources announced that The Leon Levine Foundation has awarded $45,000 in grant funding to provide nutritional support and resources that will enable seniors to age with dignity and remain healthy, independent and in their homes. Support from The Leon Levine Foundation will allow Senior Resources to serve seniors currently on a waiting list for Meals on Wheels and Home Care services. Senior Resources has been operating at elevated service levels since the outbreak of the pandemic, and the need for senior services and programs continue to grow as our aging population grows.

“In so many ways, vulnerable seniors are feeling overwhelmed right now. As we are still recovering from a public health crisis, prices for groceries and basic needs continue to rise, and the costs of utilities and fuel are elevated, the continued support of The Leon Levine Foundation is so important,” said Andrew Boozer, Executive Director of Senior Resources. “This award enables Senior Resources to provide meals, in-home care, and other services to make it more possible for local seniors to live independently in their own homes as they navigate the challenges of today’s environment.”

“Without the resources and care provided by Senior Resources, many senior citizens would have to choose between paying for essentials like food and medication or may not be able to live independently,” explained Tom Lawrence, president of The Leon Levine Foundation. “We are proud to invest in an innovative organization that is improving the well-being and quality of life for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.”

Senior Resources provides a continuum of services to our community, from delivering hot and frozen meals to the doorsteps of over 600 elderly and disabled residents of Richland County through Meals on Wheels, to providing door-to-door transportation to doctor appointments and other medical-related trips through Senior Wheels. The funding from The Leon Levine Foundation will directly impact homebound and disabled seniors in Richland County who are food insecure and face isolation and loneliness. Our programs strive to provide services and resources that support aging in place. As the only provider of Meals on Wheels in Richland County, the daily meal delivery from our Meals on Wheels volunteers serves as a wellness check, and helps to address the social isolation felt by many of our clients, as well as providing one-third of their nutritional needs.

With the support of our staff and volunteers, our services touch the lives of more than 4,000 Midlands residents. Thanks to the generous grant from The Leon Levine Foundation, we can continue to meet the changing needs of our senior community as they arise. The Leon Levine Foundation has been a long-time supporter of Senior Resources and the Midlands community.

About Senior Resources

Senior Resources is a non-profit organization that coordinates services, provides resources and encourages the personal choices that allow Columbia’s senior citizens to remain independent. All activities, services and programs of the agency are geared toward promoting independent living, with the goal of helping seniors remain in their homes as long as possible through the support of staff and volunteers, and delaying or preventing institutionalization.
Since 1967, Senior Resources has served Columbia’s frail and elderly residents in three areas:
1) In-home services, including Meals on Wheels, home care, respite care, senior companion services, and case management;
2) Community-based services, including congregate meals, wellness centers, transportation, and physical fitness;
3) Volunteer services, including the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs.
With local, state and federal government funding, as well as contributions from United Way, personal donations and fundraising activities, Senior Resources offers a variety of programs so that our clients can select the assistance they need to maintain a healthy and independent lifestyle. With the support of our staff and volunteers, our services touch the lives of more than 4,000 Midlands residents.

About The Leon Levine Foundation

Established in 1980 by Leon Levine (Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Family Dollar Stores, Inc.), The Leon Levine Foundation supports programs and organizations that improve the human condition through investments in education, healthcare, human services and Jewish values. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the Foundation invests in nonprofits across North Carolina and South Carolina with strong leadership, a track record of success, and a plan for financial sustainability. Through its investments, the Foundation intends to create pathways to self-sufficiency, champion strategies for permanent change, and facilitate opportunities for growth.

Learn more online at www.leonlevinefoundation.org or follow on Twitter and Facebook @LeonLevineFdn.