Sun Editorial – SELCC truly is a gem in our community
We’ve done a lot of reporting on food insecurity issues in our area and the work of Southeast Linn Community Center’s Food Pantry and volunteers in addressing those issues.
At the LBC adult speaker series on Thursday, May 16, SELCC executive director Nicole McAlexander highlighted other resources that make SELCC a gem in these communities and in the state. As she noted, it’s rare for an organization that has all these resources in one centralized location.
McAlexander said the mission for SELCC has stayed pretty much the same since it’s inception – help connect people to the resources they need without judgment and help build relationships and connections to the community. She said there are three core groups they look to serve in these communities – children, seniors and low-income individuals, and many programs try to cater to more than one of the groups.
Meals on Wheels and congregate dining programs are offered in the community thanks to the work of volunteers with SELCC and the food from Horizons in Cedar Rapids.
Transportation for seniors is an area that is always looking for additional volunteers, as it helps citizens participate in errands or make doctor’s appointments via a volunteer helping to shuttle them.
For youth, the summer enrichment classes and early out programming has been extremely popular.
“Those opportunities fill out fast and offers hands-on messy programs,” McAlexander said.
There’s also the free school supplies and backpacks program that reached more than 195 students last year in both communities.
That was a point that was hammered home as well. While SELCC’s offices are in Lisbon, their coverage area is hyperlocal with a focus on Mount Vernon, Lisbon and those who live, attend schools or work in these communities.
Pool pass scholarships, help with parks and recreation programs.
During the pandemic, a crisis assistance program was started locally to help those in lower income brackets to get assistance for rent, electric or water bills. That has had 116 requests for $39,084 of assistance in that time frame.
There are items like holiday assistance programs that help with holiday food boxes or gifts for those in need.
The fresh garden produce from community gardens supplied more than two tons of groceries each year.
“Living in Iowa, I believe everyone should have access to garden fresh vegetables,” McAlexander said.
This year, there will be a produce cooler at SELCC which will highlight the fresh produce grown locally.
And then the Freestyle Clothing Closet which is open to all in the community to look through gently used clothing. More than 5,000 items are distributed from there each year.
All of that work is because of the volunteers who make up SELCC’s work force, with more than 5,200 volunteer hours locally helping those numerous activities.
Individual donors make up the bulk of support for SELCC, with support from both cities as well.