Since 1956, Senior Resource Connection has supported older adults, adults with special needs and their caregivers by delivering daily nutrition services, including congregate dining, fostering social engagement and providing meaningful human interaction. The nonprofit organization also provides in-home and community-based support and coordinated access to information and assistance that promote health, independence and dignity.
Read more about SRC and how you can help them help others in this Q&A featuring Ricardo Febles, president of SRC.
Why are your services now more important than ever?
The need is clear and growing. Ohio’s population is aging rapidly. According to Miami University’s Scripps Gerontology Center, by 2025 an estimated one in four Ohioans will be age 60 or older. At the same time, economic hardship remains widespread. with the U.S. Census Bureau reporting that 27.1 percent of Montgomery County residents lives in poverty.
This convergence of an aging population and persistent poverty places increasing strain on older adults in our community, particularly those living on limited, fixed incomes. In this context, the services provided by SRC are not just helpful—they are essential.
SRC supports some of the most underserved and vulnerable aging adults by meeting basic human needs that allow them to live safely and independently in their homes. These services include daily nutrition through congregate dining and Meals on Wheels deliveries; opportunities for social connection that combat isolation; home-health support; and access to other critical resources. For many clients, SRC is a consistent and reliable presence that ensures they are nourished, connected and not forgotten.
As you begin your tenure as president of SRC, are you looking to implement any changes or build upon programs?
My foremost commitment is to honor and sustain the organization’s noble mission while strengthening our capacity to serve. My goal is to build organizational resilience and sustainability so that we not only meet the needs of today’s older adults but are prepared to serve future generations with excellence, compassion and integrity.
For many of the seniors we serve, their only daily human connection is with an SRC Meals on Wheels driver. These moments matter deeply. I am committed to ensuring that every driver is well trained—not only in safe delivery but in recognizing the importance of human interaction, observing changes in living conditions and communicating meaningful feedback between clients and staff. By doing so, we can remain closely attuned to the evolving needs of those who depend on us.
I also envision expanding and diversifying our congregate dining program by creating additional welcoming spaces where older adults can gather to eat, connect and build community. These programs are essential in combating isolation and fostering dignity, belonging and well-being.
Beyond nutrition, I hope to enhance SRC’s impact by reviving services such as our chore program, which assists seniors with cleaning, general maintenance and home repairs. Supporting a safe and healthy living environment is a critical extension of our mission and a key component of aging well at home.
I also am committed to reviving the Senior’s Best Friend supplemental pet food program. For many older adults, their pets are their closest and most constant companions. No one should be forced to choose between their own nourishment and the well-being of a beloved animal. By supporting both, we affirm the dignity, emotional health and quality of life of the seniors we serve.
These goals reflect my vision for SRC: a compassionate, responsive and sustainable organization that meets older adults where they are, honors their humanity and supports them in living safely, independently and with dignity.
Recent grants awarded from Dayton Foundation funds to the Senior Resource Connection include support for your Meals on Wheels program and to help replace and repair roof drainpipes. How do gifts like these help you help others?
Grants such as those described, and the longstanding support we have received from Dayton Foundation donors and others, enable us to strengthen and expand our mission while responding to the evolving needs of the populations we serve. This support sustains the organizational infrastructure required to deliver nutrition services, congregate dining, in-home visiting care and other essential programs with integrity, quality and consistency.
In short, gifts and grants from The Dayton Foundation provide the flexibility needed to respond to urgent needs, adapt to shifting funding environments and maintain the operational foundation that allows us to continue delivering services and maximizing our impact for those who rely on us most.
What are your most important needs right now? How can the community support them?
In a time of national economic uncertainty, rising operational costs and an increasingly constrained funding environment, private philanthropy—large and small—is essential to helping organizations like ours sustain critical infrastructure, remain nimble and respond creatively and effectively to evolving community needs. Every contribution is deeply valued, and every dollar received is reinvested directly into our programs and operational capacity, ensuring the consistent delivery of essential services to the older adults and individuals we serve.
In addition to financial support, SRC welcomes individuals, businesses and institutions willing to contribute their time, expertise or resources. Community partners interested in volunteering or exploring other forms of support are encouraged to contact us directly to learn how they can make a meaningful impact.
SRC is currently seeking a local handyman subcontractor to support our chore services, which help older adults living alone address critical health and safety needs within their homes. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out directly to SRC for additional information.
We are also actively hiring for several positions, including Meals on Wheels drivers, Intake Assessors and other essential staff roles. Individuals interested in joining our team are invited to visit our website for current opportunities at www.seniorresourceconnection.com.