$3,326 raised by 28 donors
55% complete
$6,000 Goal
Research from the National Council on Aging confirms that older adults who participate in community based senior programs can better manage and delay the onset of chronic disease and experience measurable improvements in their physical and social well-being. Unfortunately, for years, seniors in Winters lacked an organization and a facility that provided opportunities for participation in educational and social gatherings and programs. Then, in 2014, Joe Aguilar and a group of friends formed the Winters Senior Foundation (WSF) as an organization to provide social and educational get togethers for seniors living in Winters and the surrounding areas. Recently, the City of Winters secured a Community Development Block Grant that provides funding solely for the construction of a senior center, which the WSF supports. To be successful, the community needs to raise funds that will be necessary to administer, furnish and operate the center. The Winters Senior Foundation's programs and support for the senior center demonstrate its commitment to our older adult community, which allows them to get out, to get about, and to interact with others.
As 2022 comes to a close, the WSF was able to hold our first large social gathering for seniors in the form of a Christmas time dinner, plenty of music, a full catered meal and much joyful socializing. With the start of 2023 the WSF will once again hold regular monthly afternoon gatherings for seniors, providing informative speakers on all manner of topics felt to be of interest to seniors as well as provide an opportunity to meet and socialize.
Currently the WSF organizes and manages weekly small gatherings of seniors who participate in our chair yoga program and our game day activities. Although it will not be a weekly gathering, we conduct an art program for amateur artists lead by an experienced artist for those interested in painting.
Each December the WSF purchases and distributes a number of Santa Bags to seniors who do not have family support. The bags include a range of paper products and household cleaning materials. These types of items are not easily purchased by a senior using state or county financial assistance.
The Winters Senior Foundation is a local non-profit, all volunteer, community-based organization representing and advocating for the senior population in the City of Winters and surrounding areas.
Develop new small specific focused classes and strengthen those which we have started within the last quarter of 2021. We have begun a weekly chair yoga program lead by a certified instructor, the program continues to grow, a class enjoyed by many. We have conducted two quarterly art classes lead by a well-qualified artist. We will continue to expand this program.
Within the next 24 months or so it is expected that the Winters Senior Center will be completed and ready for occupancy. The Center will be built on City owned property and while the City has received a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $4.2M to construct the Center, that Grant amount only covers the building shell, it does not include the cost of furniture, fixtures, equipment or landscaping that would allow the Center to Open. The estimated financial need for the first two years of operation, beyond initial construction cost, is estimated at $750,000 and includes operating expenses such as the Center's professional staff, utilities, and maintenance. Unlike the surrounding communities, the Center will be completely self-supporting, and will be dependent on individual community members along with a formal group of community volunteers working to raise the needed funds. The WSF is not in a position to fund the huge expense related to the effort, but the Center is very important to us and we will contribute and provide support to the much larger goal as best we are able.
During the 2022 Christmas Holiday the WSF conducted it's yearly Santa Bag program. This successful program serves those less fortunate and warms the spirit in all of us. Each recipient receives an array of household
essentials such as paper products, soaps, household cleaning items, and a few surprises. This all volunteer effort purchased and delivered Santa Bags to 62 households in Winters. The need is much higher but our available funds could only stretch so far. We need your support to meet the growing need. Please assist us by making a donation.
In 2023 we plan to restart events for seniors in Winters, ranging from monthly senior community gatherings where we have speakers on all manner of topics, ice cream socials, soup lunches, and formal evening dinners. With generous donations from the community, the WSF covers a large percentage of the cost for such events.
Organization name
Winters Senior Foundation
other names
WSF
Tax id (EIN)
47-5550664
Mission Category
Community Improvement, Capacity Building
Operating Budget
$0-$50,000
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Funding: Other, Board Members
Demographics Served
Seniors
Counties Served
Yolo
Address
P.O. Box 392Winters, CA, US, 95694