Summit County Senior Citizens, Inc.

Background Statement

SCSC, Inc is an organization of 2000 members, 50+, that has provided fellowship and services/activities for its members and seniors in Summit County for forty years. During a calendar year, there are at least three dozen different activities offered accommodating the interests of those who prefer to be social and sedentary to those who wish to climb mountains and ski the slopes. The senior organization has a close working relationship with Summit County which provides staffing for the Community and Senior Center. A number of support services and nutrition programs for seniors is provided or coordinated through the county. Those who enjoy becoming involved by lending a helping hand can also find numerous volunteer opportunities through the Summit Senior and Summit County.

Beginning in 1977, a group of seventeen Summit seniors ranging from their fifties though their seventies founded this organization to provide activities and fellowship for the county's seniors. Also, established was the Summit County Senior Service Program though the State of Colorado's Department of Health & Human Services. In 1984 the Summit County Senior Citizens, Inc (SCSC) organization was formed to provide/coordinate activities for the county's seniors. At that time, there were fewer than 300 members. Activities then included trips to sporting and cultural events in the state, physical activities such as bowling, swimming, and skiing of course, plus the ever-popular social activity of dining - twice weekly lunches, monthly potlucks and a Christmas dinner. During the early years, the seniors met at the old Frisco Town Hall (currently the Visitors Center) but relocated to the Frisco Community Center building at 3rd and Granite in 1989 as the membership numbers grew and activities offered increased. With the larger space, a third weekly meal was added - the Monday Night Dinner which is still hugely popular today. In December 1988, the seniors signed a 10-year lease with the Town of Frisco for use of this building for $400 per month. At that time, it was thought that this arrangement would be permanent! The seniors would mainly use this building for meetings and their nutrition site, but it would be open to county or nonprofit organization for their meeting. They were encouraged to call a week in advance.

Still needing even more space, the seniors and the county worked together developing and funding the current Summit County Community & Senior Center on two acres of land donated by the Giberson family. The Seniors paid $1.3 million towards the cost of the $2.8 million project. A Community Development Block Grant of $250,000 helped to buy furnishing and kitchen equipment. Included in the Center is space for Timberline Adult Day Service. A dedication of the new 10,000 sq. ft. building was held in August of 2002. It's hard to believe but during this building's first three months of use, only 10% of it's available meeting-space hours were booked. Today it is the hub of senior activities, county meetings, and usage by the community.