The Rochester Council on Aging was recently awarded a $10,000 grant for its “Ye Olde Breakfast Shoppe,” at the Senior Center.

“This grant is highly competitive, and we are so thrilled and very fortunate to have been chosen as one of the 13 Best Practice Models”, said Council Director Sharon Lally.

The “Ye Olde Breakfast Shoppe” operates with self-directed teams of volunteers, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The volunteers are members of the Rochester Lions Club and the FRIENDS of the Rochester Senior Center, Inc.  Funding raised is split evenly between the two groups and then given back to the Rochester Senior Center in various ways throughout the year.

The Aging Network’s Volunteer Collaborative, comprised of the US Administration on Aging, The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities, AARP Foundation, The Corporation for National and Community Service, and The Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration, sponsored this award which focused on building up successful volunteer programs operated by self-directed teams of volunteers.

Each recipient is expected to develop a training program, which can then be shared nationwide via webinar, video, and any other way which will then mentor others to be able to duplicate the program in their own location.