Every day, senior citizens rely on the Habersham County Senior Center for basic needs and social support. With demand for meals, transportation, and other services growing, leaders say their biggest challenge is finding enough volunteers to keep up.
Feeding seniors in need
Last month alone, Habersham County’s Meals on Wheels program delivered more than 4,400 meals to homebound seniors. The Senior Center also served meals on site and provided extra food supplies, distributing 193 boxes in July and working with partners to share more than 1,800 boxes of fresh meats, vegetables, and dairy, along with 480 boxes of dry goods.
“We make sure everyone who has food insecurities is getting the nutritional foods they need each and every day,” Senior Center Director Kathy Holcomb told county commissioners at their meeting on August 18.
But ensuring seniors have food isn’t the only challenge. Georgia ranks among the top 10 states for food-insecure seniors, with 20% of the state’s population over the age of 60. Of those, more than half are women, 10.7% live in poverty, and 31% have disabilities.
“Around 25 to 30% of our clients fall into those low-income areas. Many don’t have family or anyone nearby to help them,” staff noted. “That means more of what we do has become social work. We’re not just serving meals, we’re stepping in to fill gaps.”
Rising demand for transportation
Transportation is another pressing need. The program provided 1,820 trips last month, and 22,000 trips last year. Seniors rely on the service for medical appointments, grocery shopping, and basic mobility.
“We have about 48 seniors who ride our bus, but we get so many phone calls from people needing rides to the doctor,” said Holcomb. Only those 60 years old and up are eligible for Senior Center transportation.
Holcomb had plans to expand the program this year.
“I had hoped to get my part-time driver moved to full-time, but we weren’t able to do that because of the budget cuts, so we’re surviving through it,” she told commissioners. “We’re surviving, but we depend on volunteers.”
The Senior Center currently has three volunteers who drive senior citizens to out-of-town appointments in areas such as Gainesville and Toccoa. They get reimbursed for their gas.
A call for volunteers
The Habersham County Senior Center also hosts wellness classes, activities, and community events, but staff say none of it works without support from the community.
“Our biggest need is for volunteers for Meals on Wheels,” Holcomb emphasized. “We struggle daily to have enough people to make those deliveries. A lot of times, we find ourselves having to run out and do it ourselves.”
In addition to food and transportation, the program connects seniors with resources like SNAP benefits, health care, energy assistance, rent and water support, eyeglasses, and dental care. Through partnerships with groups such as Legacy Link, Ninth District Opportunity, and Sharing & Caring, seniors have received home repairs, ramps, and other essential services.
Upcoming events
Community members will also have chances to support local seniors through upcoming events:
- Aug. 21 – Farmer’s Market with Legacy Link
- Sept. 4 – Labor Day Cookout and End of Summer Bash
- Oct. 3 – Giving Harvest fundraiser at Arrow’s Farm, 5–8:30 p.m. ($50 per ticket). Featured speakers include representatives from Meals on Wheels and the food bank.
- Nov. 14–15 – Christmas Bazaar at the senior center
- Nov. 19 – Thanksgiving celebration
- Dec. 11 – Christmas party
Despite budget cuts and high demand, Holcomb said they are committed to serving every senior with “dignity, respect, and love.”
“This center is like a second home for them,” she said. “That’s why we keep pushing forward—but we can’t do it alone.”
Anyone interested in volunteering for Meals on Wheels or transportation assistance is encouraged to contact the county Senior Center at 706-839-0260.
