Since 1976, the Salida Community Center has been a trusted nonprofit resource dedicated to enriching the lives of local residents through essential services, supportive programs, and community engagement. Operated entirely by volunteers, the Center exists to meet the evolving needs of our community — with a special focus on seniors, families, and children.
We proudly offer affordable, conveniently located meeting space for local nonprofits and community groups, helping to foster connection, collaboration, and service throughout the area.
As a hub for critical food support, the Center administers two vital assistance programs:
Together, these programs currently serve over 800 residents in the surrounding region. In addition, our Weekend Food Bag Program ensures that local children have access to nutritious food outside of school hours.
Throughout the year, we host five major community events that bring neighbors together and celebrate local traditions:
The Salida Community Center is more than a building — it’s a welcoming space where people of all ages come together to share meals, find support, build relationships, and strengthen the community we call home.
The Salida Community center is dedicated to fostering a strong, inclusive, and connected community by promoting opportunities for fellowship, recreation, health, wellness, and lifelong learning. We strive to create a welcoming environment where individuals of all ages — especially seniors, families, and children — can access vital services, build meaningful relationships, and thrive.
We believe in the power of partnership and collaboration, working closely with local organizations, nonprofits, and volunteers to respond to the evolving needs of our community. Through support, advocacy, and compassionate service, we aim to enrich the lives of our neighbors and strengthen the fabric of the Salida area.
The Salida Community Center has deep roots in the heart of Salida, Colorado — a story that began with a determined group of seniors and a vision to create a space that would serve generations to come.
Incorporated in May 1976, the Salida Senior Citizens organization advocated for a permanent location to call their own. Through persistence and community engagement, they persuaded the Salida City Council to make a vacant city-owned lot available for their use — a site once home to a large cement pond where fish from the State Hatchery had been displayed.
At the time, the State of Colorado had launched the Mineral Impact Grant Fund to support communities affected by the expected boom in mineral exploration during the energy crisis. The seniors successfully applied for and were awarded just over $100,000 through this program. However, since the grant could not be issued directly to the organization, it was awarded to the City of Salida on their behalf.
Even with this funding, the project faced a $50,000 shortfall, prompting a widespread and passionate donation drive. As contributions came in, the seniors engaged architect Joe McMillan of Denver to design the building. Once construction bids were solicited, it became clear an additional $36,000 was needed — and once again, the community stepped up.
Thanks to tireless fundraising and unwavering dedication, the building was completed in the fall of 1983.
The result is a two-story brick building with a fully finished basement, featuring a commercial kitchen, two small kitchens, four bathrooms, two classrooms, multiple storage areas, and office space. From the beginning, the Center was designed to serve many purposes — and it has done just that.
Over the decades, the Center has evolved into a vital hub for programs, services, and events that strengthen the Salida community. Originally owned by the City of Salida due to the grant arrangement, a major milestone was reached in 2022 when the citizens of Salida voted to deed the property over to the organization. Today, the Salida Senior Citizens Center, doing business as the Salida Community Center, proudly owns and operates the facility — continuing the legacy of service, support, and connection that began nearly 50 years ago.
Organization name
The Salida Senior Citizens Inc
1976
Tax id (EIN)
84-0718501
Category
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, Human Services, Public & Societal Benefit
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
305 F STChaffee County, CO, US
Fremont County, CO, US
Saguache County, CO, US