SUMMIT COUNTY — With the Summit County Seniors Royal Rummage Sale kick- off today, members have high hopes for its top fundraising benefit. Organizers said they'd like to raise more than $40,000 this weekend to fund local programs helping out Summit County's senior population.

“We give to organizations that help seniors,” said Summit County Seniors president Ron Boller.

The Royal Rummage Sales will run through Sunday, and it's set to sell almost anything locals could want, from furniture to athletic equipment and everything in between. It also includes a high-end auction. Last year, the event raised $46,000.

Who are the Seniors?

While the Summit County Seniors isn't considered a membership organization by its president, it boasts of approximately 1,400 local members, age 55 and older. Dues are $10 a year.

“We don't turn people away who aren't members,” Boller said. “We use our membership for newsletters and a senior directory. Any senior is welcome to participate in any of our activities, whether they be full-time or part-time in Summit County. We actually have a zillion different kinds of activities — indoor and outdoor.”

The Seniors' biggest programs focus on nutrition and its Mountain Meals home delivery to people who can't leave home. The nutrition program includes Monday night dinner, Tuesday and Thursday lunches, as well as meals delivery throughout the week.

“It's created for social purposes, as well as to provide nutritious, inexpensive meals to seniors,” Boller said.

Fundraising efforts are also hugely focused on the Seniors grant program, primarily funded by the rummage sale going on now.

“We do community service, we have fun, and the range of activities is extensive,” Boller said. “So anything you want to do in Summit County as a senior, you can find others to do it, from volunteering to climbing 14ers.”

Popular indoor activities for seniors — members and non-members alike — range from bridge to book club to discussion groups. And outdoor activities include the Senior Winter Games, hiking, snow-shoeing, skiing and biking.

“If you want to join the community, the Summit County Seniors are a good place to start,” Boller said.

Seniors strive to improve the community

While Summit County Seniors fundraising efforts collecting in excess of $50k a year, other programs and activities rely on alternative sources of revenue, including grants, fees and activities. The total yearly budget is approximately $100,000.

And with no staff —the Seniors organization is volunteer-run — the group is managed by its board of directors. The nonprofit is, however linked with the Summit County Community and Senior Center, and Senior volunteers help support the center.

“Summit County Senior activities have open access to the community center,” Boller said.

Boller noted that Summit County Seniors actually funded a large portion of the community center when it was built eight years ago. And its next big project is to attract an assisted-living facility to the county.

“We would like people not to have to leave Summit County when they have to leave their home,” Boller said. “It's going to take an awful lot of money and probably an outside investor. We're doing our best to attract the funding for it.”

The Summit County Seniors president also said the large group aims to make Summit County “an attractive place to live and visit.”

“Our programs, the winter games for example, brings people in from outside of Summit County,” Boller said. “Our bridge program also attracts non-locals. We believe that we're helping make Summit County attractive because we love Summit County.”

If you'd like to nominate a local nonprofit to be featured in Helping Hands, contact SDN reporter Caitlin Row at (970) 668-4633 or crow@summitdaily.com.