Ascension - Seton Center

Overview

What began in 1969 as a way to serve meals to the elderly has evolved into a center that distributes food and hygiene products; operates a thrift store; and provides safety net dental services, older adult services as well as utility and rent assistance to people within several hundred blocks who are not served by other agencies. Through Christmas Sharing, local police come together with the neighborhood association to assist with distributing canned goods, clothing, blankets, coats and toys as well as serving a meal. Ninety-seven percent of clients are at or below the poverty level.

Impact

Through the collaboration of several community partners, food is distributed to 700 families per month; thrift store visits total 800 per month; 40 older adults are visited per week; 300 families receive utility/rent assistance per year; dental visits total 10,000 per year; 300 people attend the health fair per year; 320 students receive back-to-school items per year; and 1,500 people benefit from Christmas Sharing per year.

Lessons Learned

With clients receiving fewer food stamps, the program went from distributing food once a month to every three weeks. Some families were using a yearly count for receiving utility/rent assistance; so program leaders changed the guidelines to state that they could assist every 12 months.

Future Goals

Begin a tutoring program for approximately 100 first- through fifth-grade students in reading. Develop job readiness and financial literacy programs. Partner with local vocational tech schools to develop a computer literacy program.

Contact: Nick Ragone, Esq.
Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Telephone: 314-733-8941
Email: nick.ragone@ascension.org