Shepherd’s Center: A community center without walls

By Jill Draper

Seniors helping seniors. Seniors having adventures. These have been the two main goals of the Kansas City Shepherd’s Center since it began more than 50 years ago when its initial programs—Meals on Wheels and Adventures in Learning—were considered groundbreaking.

CBS National News even filmed a documentary on the programs created after some 25 interfaith pastors, led by Elbert Cole of Central United Methodist Church, came together in 1972 to empower older adults during a time when their likely future often was a “rest home.”

Instead, Cole wanted to focus on people working together for the common good, especially people, such as the older population, “that get lost in our own community.”

The Shepherd’s Center eventually inspired a national movement. Now there are 55 centers in 17 states, including several others in the metro region: Raytown, KCK and the Northland. The number of programs available also has grown, says Janet Baker, executive director of the largest center with an administrative office at 9200 Ward Parkway in south KC.

In addition to starting the first Meals on Wheels program in the area, the center now runs an AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program, a Friendly Visitor Program, Phone Pals, benefits counseling for Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) and a small emergency assistance program for things like installing grab bars and repairing medical equipment.

“I describe the Shepherd’s Center as the backstage producer of seniors serving each other,” says Baker, who counts about 700 volunteers. “We’re a community center without walls.”

Adventures in Learning, for example, meets at Keystone United Methodist Church, 407 W 74th St., switching to online programs during winter from January to March. Popular topics include current events discussions, presidential history and opera houses of the world.

The first session is free, then the fee is $25 per quarter or $10 per month.

A more recent program called Road Trippers offers both day and overnight trips. Past outings have included Louisburg Cider Mill and the Big Cat Sanctuary, Bingham-Waggoner Mansion and Estate, the Harry S. Truman Library, Powell Gardens and a tour of Pella, Iowa.

A Kansas City holiday lights bus tour for $20 will be held on Dec. 11.

A big part of the center’s mission is to combat isolation and loneliness among seniors. “Our founders knew that was important, and the research has now caught up,” says Baker, who notes these factors contribute to 50 percent of dementia cases and 40 percent of deaths, plus many illnesses. Some experts say that being lonely, depressed and/or anxious is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, she adds.

In the future Baker would like to see a brick-and-mortar center where seniors can come to socialize and maybe have lunch. She also would like to sign up more volunteers for phone pals and start a caregiver support group as well as a grief support group. And while the center takes no political stance, leaders have launched a new series called Adventures in Advocacy to teach seniors how to lobby officials for more attention and support.

Baker cites a statistic from Giving USA that claims only 1 percent of philanthropic funds go to senior services, and here she gets passionate. “Older adults are not charity. We’re part of the community and we deserve to have our fair share of the taxes we’ve paid into for longer than anyone. We’ve supported libraries and schools and now it’s our turn. We need help now.”

Meanwhile, the Shepherd’s Center raises money from a variety of sources—government funds, fundraising events such as 70 Over 70 and Guac Your World Taco Competition plus donations.

Because many older adults can’t afford to move to senior living facilities, Baker says it’s crucial to have funds to help them age in place. That’s why she and her staff “are thrilled that Jackson County voters decided that seniors count” by passing a new tax levy on Nov. 5.

“We need to understand the return on this small investment,” she says. “I can provide Meals on Wheels for an individual for one year for the cost of one day in the hospital. I can also argue morality. We need to honor our elders.”

According to Baker, the Shepherd’s Center is one of the only organizations that focuses solely on older adults. “That’s all we do,” she says. “I think we’re pretty unique.” The center looks forward to applying for funds through the new tax levy once money is available, although that won’t be until 2026, she says.

In 2023 the center served 200,000 Meals on Wheels, mostly in Jackson County. As one volunteer sums up, “It’s a lot more than the actual meal that we’re serving.”

To volunteer, donate or participate, see kcshepherdscenter.org.