Eastside Friends of Seniors

EFS is looking to 2018 as year to strengthen its core services. To that end, the overarching objective for 2018 is to raise contributed revenue and volunteer engagement each by 20%. We plan to accomplish this objective through three defined focus areas:

1) Enhance and Build the Team—We have a stable and strong staff and to meet the increasing demand for our services, we hope to be able to increase the number of staff hours to main our high level of service. We are working to grow our Board of Directors, recently having added two new members.

2) Come out from under the Radar-- This focuses on enhancements to our Messaging, Development and Community Relations to build community awareness from both a client and volunteer perspective.

3) Process Improvement -- EFS is working on ways to improve our service practices including ways to enhance recruitment; implementing a new client database system; and making technology updates.

In 2017, the board will focus on these major strategies:

- Guide Interim Executive Director
- Recruit and hire new Executive Director
- Upgrade office hardware and software
- Pursue facility partnership with Issaquah and alternatives
- Pursue "hub and spoke" partnerships with senior centers and other agencies
- Plan and execute the Annual Luncheon
- Execute board responsibilities in the development plan

We believe in the importance of forging meaningful relationships between client and volunteer. This is what sets our program apart and what keeps our volunteers engaged and gives our elderly clients a sense of belonging.

Our Executive Director has four part time staff members, who provide a wealth of expertise to the organization.
a Client Services Coordinator, Data Services Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Office Coordinator.
The Board of Directors of EFS come from a broad range of people in our community, including the King County Libraries; a Community Volunteer and IT specialist; a recently retired Weapon System Manager on the F-22 program; and the Executive Director of the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce. Board members include a Community Volunteer and a retired County Senior Policy Analyst; a retired Public Educator; the Executive Director of a Senior Care company; a Fund Dev Specialist at the Issaquah School District; a Healthcare employee; and a financial planner.

Our client base in 2017 grew a modest 2% to 651 over 2016's base of 641.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Eastside Friends of Seniors. We had excellent volunteer retention throughout 2017, and our active volunteer base has grown 37% over the 2016. Meanwhile, the number of hours our volunteers donated in 2017 increased 7% over 2016.

This increase in volunteer hours correlates to our service outputs. The number of miles they drove to serve our senior citizens increase nearly 27% over the number in 2016.

Rides to medical, social and other appointments 2017 1,529 2016 1,285 19% increase
Housekeeping, Handyman and Yard activities for safety, health and preservation of primary asset 2017 429 2016 135 218% increase
Shopping Trips for basic needs of food and clothing
2017 580 2016 313 85% increase
Referrals to other services that can help 225 203 11%
Ride fulfillment rate 98% 97.5% 1%

We still have work to do.