Giving Thanks for 55 Years of Ministry with the Seniors of San Francisco
Old First's Doris Krauss Senior Center Closes May 7, 2018
The story is told that in 1963, San Francisco Mayor George Christopher asked the San Francisco Council of Churches to offer a lunch program to seniors. Old First Presbyterian Church said yes to the challenge and would go on to serve seniors faithfully for the next fifty-five years. Doris Krauss, Old First’s Director of Christian Education in 1963, also became the director of the new program for seniors and continued in that role for twenty-two years. For almost forty years the center was fullystaffed by volunteers.
Five years ago, Old First’s session formed the Doris Krauss Senior Center Commission to take a long-term view of the center. The commission of Randy Smith, Betty Voris, Cindy Burt, Sally Spencer, and recent member Kristi Hoerauf brought renewed energy, focus, commitment, and set goals and objectives for the senior center. They have wrestled with funding, limited day-time volunteers, and explored whether the center could bring in more seniors and offer other programs to address unmet needs among San Francisco’s seniors.
After much reflection, time, and work the commission proposed to the church session that – after more than half a century – the senior center close its doors. The session reflected on this wisdom and with heavy hearts decided that the Doris Krauss Senior Center had served the city and our seniors long and well. They reflected how fifty-five years ago there were far too few senior centers and now there are over twenty-five city and non-profit centers serving meals and meeting the needs of seniors all over San Francisco.
Old First elder John Kramer spoke a word of hope to the session’s heavy heart saying, “In some ways this a triumph-55 years ago this church and others met a need in the city. They were pioneers in caring for Seniors and now a half a century later the city and civic organizations have arisen to meet the needs of seniors in San Francisco. In 1963 Old First was ahead of the curve and now others have stepped into care in ways we could have never imagined!”
Pastor Maggi Henderson reflected that this is now the time for us to pray, to listen, to experiment, and to seek out where God is calling us serve, where we should be the compassion of Christ in 2018 and beyond.