In 2022, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) began a three-year pledge of $45,000 in support of Aiken Senior Life Services’ (ASLS) new facility – which provides ‘Meals on Wheels,’ transportation and enrichment programming for Aiken County senior citizens.

For over 50 years, ASLS services have supported the independence, health and well-being of seniors in the community. In 2023, the ASLS Meals on Wheels program created 18 meal routes across Aiken County – serving over 90,000 meals and traveling over 1 million miles to feed the hungry. In addition, ASLS provides seniors with transportation for essential shopping, employment, and non-emergency medical transfers.

“By 2030, we will be reaching what some call the ‘Silver Tsunami,’ in which older people will actually outnumber children for the first time in history,” said Aimee Hanna, ASLS Executive Director. “As baby boomers reach their senior years and longevity increases, there simply are not enough services to meet this growing demand.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the senior population in South Carolina will double to an estimated 1.8 million by 2030. The previous ASLS facility had reached capacity, preventing the agency from expanding services to meet this need.

“The lack of space made it difficult for our agency to expand its current program offerings,” continued Hanna. “We knew we had to find a larger facility to protect our future missions.”

In March 2020, ASLS purchased a 19,000-square-foot facility that could reach a larger population. Since July 2022, they have raised over $550,000 of their $1.5 million goal for the building known as the Anne and Cot Campbell Center.

“Our three-year pledge to support ASLS continues as they grow and expand their services,” said Martha Ruthven, SRNS Community Relations Specialist. “SRNS is honored to contribute the funding needed to bring the new building to life, where it will serve an even greater number of seniors and bring awareness to this public health issue.”

The new facility includes a dining space that accommodates up to 190 people, event space in Hydrangea Hall, the Ryberg Fitness room, and the Kalmia Conference room. To keep the community socially engaged and cognitively sharp, ASLS provides outreach programs including nutrition and wellness, tech talks, visual arts, gardening and outdoors, history, fitness, and bus trips.