BY PARKS KUGLE & JARRETT WHITENER
Average congregate meals served at North San Antonio senior centers The North San Antonio senior centers serve an average of 207,720 congregate meals every year.
Breaking it down
Something to know
Providing congregate meals is the most utilized service that BAAA provides, with an average of 73 meals served at Bob Ross Senior Center, 237 meals served at Walker Ranch Senior Center and 267 meals served at the Northeast Senior Center per day. Perez said AACOG has funded the congregate meal program for 30 years, with the city funding the difference as enrolled residents increased. “We have 44 sites where we provide meals, but the $2 million [in grant funds] isn’t enough, so the city supplements that with the general fund,” Perez said.
From local assistance to federal programs, seniors throughout Greater San Antonio have access to resources and assistance to fit a variety of needs. For those who want to get involved with supporting seniors, each of the senior programs and organizations have donation and volunteer opportunities that help these services operate. Perez said that though the senior centers have roughly eight or nine employees per center, there is also a large volunteer program that helps with day-to-day needs. “We’ve got almost 500 volunteers at all of our senior centers that help throughout the day, either by covering the front desk, helping to distribute the meals, doing food commodities or whatever [is needed],” Perez said. List of resources The San Antonio Food Bank 210-431-8326 Alamo Service Connection 866-231-4922 Bob Ross Senior Center 210-207-5300 Northeast Senior Center 210-207-4590 Walker Ranch Senior Center 210-207-5280 Meals on Wheels 210-735-5115 Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program 210-362-5209
Average meals for fiscal year 2023-24
Senior centers
Per day Per month Per year
Bob Ross Senior Center Northeast Senior Center Walker Ranch Senior Center
73
2,190 26,280
267
8,010 96,120
237
7,110
85,320
SOURCE: SAN ANTONIO HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s being done
Alongside support from AACOG, Perez said the city offers a variety of services at its 12 comprehen- sive senior centers, such as daily meals, access to commodities, medical checkups, transportation to and from the center, social activities and educa- tional classes. Each of these senior centers serve approximately 100-600 seniors every day.
Additionally, the city provides neighbor- hood-based access to food, transportation services, workforce training, employment and volunteer opportunities. The city also provides caregivers connections to resources and training. Around 43,500 seniors were actively enrolled at the city’s senior centers in fiscal year 2023-24.
1 Bob Ross Senior Center 2 Walker Ranch Senior Center
3 Northeast Senior Center 4 Blessed Angels Community Center
281
2
3
10
Live Oak
4
35
BABCOCK RD.
RHAPSODY DR.
Castle Hills
1604
WURZBACH PKWY.
NACOGDOCHES RD.
Leon Valley
SOURCE: SAN ANTONIO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
1
410
N
SOURCE: SAN ANTONIO HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
15
NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION
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