In February 2008, upon recommendation of the Philanthropy Committee, Kendal Charitable Funds allocated a grant of $5,000 to each Kendal affiliate. The board invited each affiliate to reach out beyond its own resident community to people beyond its boundaries. Following are summaries of the projects affiliates undertook to fulfill this challenge. **

Kendal at Hanover, Hanover, New Hampshire

Kendal at Hanover used its grant to provide meals and food to several local senior centers and a soup kitchen. The community staff prepared meals at Kendal and transported them to each location. Two meals were prepared for the Horse Meadow Senior Center in North Haverhill, one for their annual volunteer recognition lunch and the other for their Fall Harvest Celebration. Staff also prepared a lunch for the Mascoma Senior Center and a Thanksgiving meal for the Richard Black Senior Center in Hanover. They prepared and provided 2 dinners for the Claremont Soup Kitchen, one a volunteer recognition and the other their pre-Christmas dinner. In addition, Kendal donated whole fruit to the soup kitchen which went into 150 stuffed stockings for local children. All together they provided approximately 700 meals. According to David Urso, Director of Marketing and Resident Services, Kendal made sure the centers had plenty of leftovers for additional meals. David notes, "Overall, it was a great experience for the staff who prepared and served the meals. We felt good about being able to give back to the local community. We received many letters from the centers and from a facility board member for the generous contribution and spirit of giving. I hope that Kendal will consider continuing this generous program."

Kendal on Hudson, Sleepy Hollow, New York

Kendal on Hudson conducted their third annual health fair for seniors on October 2, 2008 and invited residents of the local river towns to attend. The grant was used to expand their reach into the community through advertising, to offer more programs, and to provide transportation. The fair was also promoted through senior centers and an organization called Open Door Medical Centers in Tarrytown. A committee of staff and Kendal residents, plus 45 resident volunteers, planned and carried out the fair. Representatives from more than 20 local organizations staffed tables filled with information and materials. Screenings were offered for blood pressure, gait and balance, osteoporosis, and macular degeneration, with a number of referrals made for follow-up. Several mini classes were offered in Yoga and chair exercises. About 70 guests, along with Kendal residents, filled the corridors and the gathering room. Kendal residents provided musical entertainment. A variety of snacks were available including ice cream and fresh fruit. There were two lectures - one on macular degeneration by a local physician, and one on smart food shopping and understanding food labels by a registered dietician.

Kendal at Ithaca, Ithaca, New York

Kendal at Ithaca fulfilled a request for funding from Tompkins County Office for the Aging's Caregivers Resource Center. The center sought support for its "Powerful Tools for Caregivers" Program which was developed by Legacy Caregiver Services for family and friends caring for older adults who have stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease or similar long-term conditions. The program, which has been replicated in communities throughout the United States, teaches caregivers to use community resources, manage their stress, to communicate effectively with friends, family, and healthcare providers, and to cope with difficult emotions so that they can better care for themselves while caring for someone else.

As of August 2009, and since the inception of the program in January of 2008, 81 caregivers have completed the program. Participants report feeling less anger, guilt and depression. They also have indicated improved communication skills, an increased ability to cope with the difficult challengs of caregiving, and better self-care. Kendal at Ithaca residents and staff have completed this program and have directly realized its benefits. Upcoming classes will begin at the end of September. For information on the classes, call Marilyn Roberts Chase at the Tompkins county Office for the Aging at 607-274-5488.

The program was recognized in 2007 with a National Family Caregiving Award in the Education category by the National Alliance for Caregiving. The Tompkins County program was formed through the cooperation of 5 local agencies, which are providing staff to be trained in teaching the program. Trainers are shown in the photo at the right, with Kendal at Ithaca staff member, Betsy Schermerhorn. Seated from left to right are Bill Hawley, Katrina Schickel, Dave Stoyell; standing from left to right are Marilyn Roberts Chase, Patti Zalewski, Saoirse McClory, Betsy Schermerhorn, Roberta Armstrong. View a flyer produced to promote the classes.

Kendal at Lexington, Lexington, Virginia

In connection with its focus on sustainability, Kendal at Lexington ordered reusable cloth grocery bags to be shared with the wider community in a variety of ways. Over 100 bags were filled with non-perishable food items and distributed to Meals on Wheels recipients. One couple wrote, "Thank you for the reusable grocery bag laden with surprise eatables. We appreciate the generosity of the Kendal Charitable Funds. Please visit our superb Senior Center soon."

Kendal board, staff, and residents have each received a bag and over 100 more are being delivered to the Senior Center for use as part of the Center's focus on sustainability. The bags will also be shared with Rotary clubs, Ruritan clubs, and networking groups like the Next 50 and Rockbridge 20/20. They will also be distributed at a variety of community events Kendal will be conducting or participating in during 2009. The bags are accompanied by a note, "Please enjoy this reusable grocery bag, compliments of Kendal at Lexington. This bag can enhance efforts to conserve our natural resources and supports our commitment to sustainability. This gift is made possible by a grant awarded to Kendal at Lexington from Kendal Charitable Funds. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at 540-463-1910."

Kendal~Crosslands Communities, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

KCC used the grant to supplement the purchase a second van for their Helping Hands program. Helping Hands is a community outreach program providing bi-weekly in-home housekeeping services to income qualified older adults (age 50+) in the southern Chester County community. In conjunction with the Kennett Area Senior Center, KCC initiated the program in 2004 serving 10 clients, and expanded the program to reach 40 clients. With the purchase of a second van and adding a part time housekeeper, the program is now serving 48 income qualified local area seniors. Services are performed by experienced KCC Housekeeping staff. An hourly charge is determined by a sliding fee scale, based on annual income level.

Reports and comments from clients have been uniformly positive, and the quality of life of those in the program has improved. In addition to improving the cleanliness and living conditions of the clients, the partnership between KCC and KASC has also enabled Kendal to address other needs and problems that have been observed. KCC staff has been able to refer clients to the Senior Center for services such as meals and visiting nurse services. KCC has also had the opportunity to donate needed household items to clients on several occasions. Currently KCC is subsidizing the program's operating loss from The Helping Hands Fund. Charitable contributions are always welcome. If ongoing funding and donations continue as the organization hopes, KCC envisions expanding this program to encompass other services which could include transportation, medical billing assistance, handyman services, and others.

Lathrop Communities, Easthampton and North Hampton, Massachusetts

In the fall of 2008, Lathrop Communities staff visited local Senior Centers and presented the idea of offering the Posit Science Brain Fitness software for use at their centers. In Easthampton, they had more pressing needs. Many seniors in the local area apply for fuel assistance funds from the center and so Lathrop donated $1,000.00 to their emergency fuel fund. This action was taken back in the fall, before Old Man Winter hit New England, and when winter came, it came with many cold days and nights. So the community is glad to have been able to help them keep local area seniors warm. At Northampton Senior Center there was much excitement about the Brain Fitness program and an order has been placed for 4 software licenses, designed specifically for Senior Centers. The program will be announced in the Spring. Lathrop Communities residents will be able to use the Brain Fitness software, too.

In addition, Lathrop Communities is beginning a meal delivery and housekeeping outreach program to a local 55+ condominium complex and has used some of the monies to create brochures and a dedicated phone line for this project. This project is still in development.

Kendal Northern Ohio - Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin, Ohio, and Kendal at Home, serving six counties in northern Ohio

The Kendal Board of Directors and staff have worked with Lorain County’s Office on Aging to explore ways of expanding services to Lorain County seniors.  While the Office on Aging was beginning the work towards an updated Lorain County Older Adults Needs Assessment, adequate funding for the project was a long standing issue.  In order to support this effort, Kendal Northern Ohio used a grant from Kendal Charitable Funds to enable the Office on Aging to engage the needed research to update the report.  Findings of the updated Lorain County Older Adults Needs Assessment were published in late 2008, and indicated that services to older adults, in the larger community, are unmet and at best fragmented.

With a goal to expand services to seniors in the larger community, Kendal Northern Ohio has developed a relationship with Senior Independence, a nonprofit provider, who has operated a home and community based service system since1980 throughout Ohio.  This collaboration offers a union of two organizations with depth and breadth in providing services for older adults.  The development of Kendal and Senior Independence in Partnership for Home and Community Based Services has the potential to help meet the unmet needs of the current and growing older adult population of Lorain and western Cuyahoga Counties, by providing a range of specialized home health and wellness services to seniors of all levels of income.

**The Philanthropy Committee commended outreach efforts such as those featured in the 2007 Annual Report of The Kendal Corporation as model examples. You are welcome to download the 2007 Annual Report of The Kendal Corporation. This issue is titled "From a Culture of Generosity, a Commitment to Outreach." (Please note it is in PDF format and is a large file.) In addition, the board encouraged affiliates to consider a project that would enhance diversity.

Other affiliate reports will be posted as we receive them.