In July, 1947, a group of forward-thinking women founded an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in their community - Peninsula Volunteers, Inc. Decades before others were focusing on seniors, these pioneers decided to create high quality and nurturing programs for the aging to ensure that those who helped build our community would be able to continue to live here in dignity and comfort.

Today, sixty years later, Peninsula Volunteers can lay claim to a number of firsts, and has established four community programs that have impacted hundred of thousands of mid-peninsula residents: Meals on Wheels, Rosener House Adult Day Services, Little House, The Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center, and low cost senior housing at Crane Place and Partridge/Kennedy apartments.

Peninsula Volunteers first community outreach provided children's day care at Stanford University for the returning World War II veterans - a program that still exists today. In 1949, Peninsula Volunteers began its work with seniors, establishing Little House Senior Center in Menlo Park. Little House moved to its present home in Nealon Park in 1954, and was the first senior activity center in the United States to have a building specifically designed for the over 50 age group. Now known as Little House, The Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center fosters community spirit and socialization through daily classes, workshops and a social atmosphere that enhances the lives of its members. Over 5000 people a month take advantage of the classes and services including legal and tax assistance, and information about housing, long term care, support groups and financial planning. Little House collaborates with UC Santa Cruz Oscher Life Long Learning, Sequoia Adult Education, and hosts Camp Avenidas each summer.

In 1960, the city of Menlo Park, granted the petition of Peninsula Volunteers for the rezoning of their land at 817 Partridge Avenue for retirement living units - the first such zoning in America. The Housing and Home Finance Agency in Washington, DC then granted a loan of $280,000 for construction of 30 apartments. This was the second such loan made by the HHFA (now HUD) but the first construction job under such a loan. A letter from President John F. Kennedy on October 13, 1961 thanks Peninsula Volunteers stating "Your leadership in sponsoring retirement housing is an example for all the nation. The start you have made will soon be followed by similar projects like yours." Today, Peninsula Volunteers, through Peninsula Volunteers Properties, Inc. owns and operates Partridge Kennedy Apartments and Crane Place Apartments in Menlo Park, providing 82% of the low cost housing for seniors in that city. As part of the 60th anniversary celebration, Peninsula Volunteers Properties, Inc. will burn the paid-in-full Crane Place mortgage on December 2, 2007.

In 1978, Peninsula Volunteers established Rosener House on Amherst Avenue in Menlo Park to enhance the quality of life for older adults who were not able to independently make use of Little House, and in 1980, with the City of Menlo Park's help, moved into the former Fremont School. After twenty years and a major earthquake, the city decided the building was no longer viable but gave Peninsula Volunteers the go-ahead to build a new facility on the same site. After a successful capital campaign, Rosener House re-opened in 2001 in a $4.2 million, 12,000 square foot, state-of-the art facility. Through the years Rosener House has added services to meet the emerging needs of the community but continues to serve older adults with limitations, allowing them to remain in their homes and offering respite for family caregivers. In 2006, Rosener House added Occupational Therapy services and expanded Physical and Speech Therapies with a grant from the Sequoia Healthcare District.

As an outgrowth of the program to bring food to Little House members unable to get there for their daily hot meals, Peninsula Volunteers began preparing and delivering Meals on Wheels in 1977. Today, the Peninsula Volunteers kitchen at Little House has just undergone a reconstruction that will allow PVI to more than double the number of meals served each day. The kitchen currently serves Meals on Wheels in south San Mateo County, at Little House, Rosener House, and three other senior centers and one adult day services center on the Peninsula - over 100,000 meals a year.

Other programs inaugurated by Peninsula Volunteers in San Mateo County over the years include: high school scholarships, Retired Senior Volunteers Program (RSVP),Well Elder Center, HICAP . In addition, PVI has supported the San Mateo Adoption Center, Agnew State Hospital, Veterans Hospitals and the San Mateo County Home, and has represented the seniors of San Mateo County at the President's Council on Aging and the National Gerontological Conferences in Washington, DC.

Peninsula Volunteers, Inc.
800 Middle Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Telephone: 650-326-0665
Fax: 650-326-9547