GADD's senior centers front and center at National Association of Development Organizations Conference
Gateway Area Development District's (GADD) Emily Jordan, above, presents at the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Annual Training Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jordan oversees the day-to-day operations of GADD's regional senior centers program.
Gateway Area Development District (GADD) Director of Operations Emily Jordan recently presented at the National Association of Development Organization's (NADO) 2024 Annual Training Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. There, over 620 rural and regional development practitioners from regional development organizations across the country gathered to share knowledge, discuss experiences, and learn from one another.
Jordan, who oversees the day-to-day operations of GADD's regional Senior Centers Program, participated in an Aging and Economic Development panel presentation. The session reviewed the social and economic impacts of population aging that are being felt in regions across the country. Regional development organizations are increasingly looking for new strategies to help their growing number of older adults thrive. The panelist discussed impactful programs across a variety of domains—food security, housing, and development planning—that are helping adults live full lives in their communities as they grow older.
GADD, which operates the senior centers in Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, and Rowan counties, presented on its Regional Senior Centers Expansion project. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gateway region and its local elected officials joined together to carry out Gov. Andy Beshear's directive—any senior who wants a meal can get a meal. Realizing the need for meals in the region was quickly outgrowing the facilities and equipment at the Gateway Regional Kitchen, Menifee County Judge/Executive Rick Stiltner, the Menifee County Fiscal Court, and the GADD Board of Directors prioritized expanding facilities, purchasing new equipment, and creating innovative programs to keep pace with the demand for meals and senior services.
The expansion project made it possible for GADD to serve nearly 860 additional seniors, an 184% increase from Fiscal Year 2022 to Fiscal Year 2023, all while preparing over 100,000 meals. GADD's senior center programs have provided over 250,000 meals in the past two fiscal years. Over 207,000 of these meals were prepared at the Gateway Regional Kitchen in Frenchburg.
In addition to ramping up production to meet the increased demand for traditional congregate and home-delivered meals, GADD developed innovative programs to further its impact across the region. GADD partnered with local businesses/restaurants in each county for its Meal Voucher Program. The Meal Voucher Program aims to provide additional meals to seniors during times when the region's senior centers are closed. Since the program kicked off in 2023, nearly 3,400 meal vouchers have been used, providing over $30,000 in local economic impact.
To ensure home-delivered meal program participants have functioning equipment to prepare their meals, GADD created the Microwave Program. Since its inception in December 2022, GADD has purchased and delivered 58 microwaves to seniors. MotorMeals—a mobile food truck that visits a different location in each county weekly and distributes hot meals to seniors. The truck brings nutritionally qualified meals to those out in the counties, and has set up at over 40 participating locations, served over 1,000 seniors, and distributed nearly 11,000 meals.
The Senior Centers Expansion project included both state and federal funding. The Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), via Expanded Senior Meal Program (ESMP) funding authorized by Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly, was utilized to purchase equipment and provide programmatic funding. Community Development Block Grant-COVID funding via the Department for Local Government (DLG) was utilized to increase the square footage at the Gateway Regional Kitchen and Menifee County Senior Center.
"Having the opportunity to present at the NADO Annual Training Conference was truly an honor," Jordan said. "It's humbling to represent the organization, board of directors, and our amazing staff that give their all every day to serve the region's seniors. Without the support of the board and the unwavering commitment of our team, this work, which continues every day, would not be possible."
Jordan was joined on the panel by Samantha Wullenwaber, Deputy Executive Director at the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments, and Paige Coe, Community Development Specialist at Lake Cumberland Area Development District.
NADO promotes public policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through the regional strategies, coordination efforts, and program expertise of the nation's regional development organizations.
All GADD-operated senior center sites are open Monday through Friday, with lunch served from 11:30 a.m. to noon daily. For more information on GADD's senior center program, including the hours of operation and upcoming events, please visit www.gwadd.org/senior-centers/, or call GADD's Aging and Disability Resource Center at 855-882-5307.
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