Franceen Crum of Floyd County proudly stands in her pantry at the Martin Senior Citizens Center where she prepares and serves meals to Floyd County seniors. Crum enrolled in BSACAP’s Senior Community Service Employment Program and worked her way up to Head Cook of Floyd County Senior Citizens Centers.

For many, a job is something more than just a way to earn money. It is a chance to experience friendship, camaraderie, pride, and joy while being of service to others. And this is most certainly the case for Franceen Crum of Floyd County who gained employment through the Senior Community Service Employment Program at BSACAP.

Crum worked at Riverview Nursing Home in Prestonsburg for 15 years. She had gone to school to become a phlebotomist and was just about ready to take the state-mandated test when she found out that she would be forced to have open heart surgery and put her working life on hold.

After her recovery, Crum began to look for new work and saw a story in the newspaper about Big Sandy Area Community Action’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a program designed to help low-income people over the age of 55 to receive the job training, education, and support they may need to find employment. The time spent in the program is dedicated to paid community service work.

After enrolling in the program, Crum began working 15 hours each week at the Prestonsburg Senior Citizens Center. With her skills and her background in elder care, she was a perfect fit.

After her time with SCSEP ended, Crum was hired on at the Martin Senior Citizens center as a Center Aid. After a year in that position, Crum moved up to Cook’s Assistant, and now serves as Head Cook for Floyd County Senior Citizens Centers.

Crum is charged with planning and cooking over 220 meals in a day to serve the six senior centers in Floyd County where food is delivered to centers and homes. In addition to adhering to state nutritional guidelines, Crum also received CPR and first aid training, drivers training, and nutritional training.

Crum says she loves working at the Senior Citizens Center. “They are a great bunch of people and we’re like a big family. People laugh and joke and carry on, and we care about each other. It’s just a really good place to be,” she said. Crum said her time with SCSEP started a whole new life for her and that “It’s a great joy to be helping other seniors.”

Even after several setbacks, Crum, with the help of Big Sandy Area Community Action Program, was able to find her way back to serving our community, caring for our elderly, and enjoying a life filled with laughter and friendship.