Award Recognizes Services Provided to St. Michael Crow River Senior Center

Providing meals to seniors at Crow River Senior Center in St. Michael is an accomplishment that led the River Inn of Hanover to win a Key Community Partners Award from Minnetonka-based Senior Community Services, or SCS.

The late-October award recognizes "the outstanding effort and positive impact the recipients have had on seniors in their communities," according to SCS.

The Crow River Senior Center has had a close partnership with the River Inn for six years. The restaurant has provided meals for the senior dining program and the Meals on Wheels program. 

In 2011, 6,178 meals were served to the center for both programs, according to the SCS.

The River Inn is owned by Jodi and Rick Tappe and Larry Sperr is the cook and go-to person for meals.

"Larry works well with the seniors and goes out of his way to accommodate special needs," stated the SCS. The organization is a nonprofit organization that supports independent living for the elderly.

The award was presented at the second annual Key Community Partner Awards in Minneapolis in late October. Other award recipients included Monticello Senior Center Board of Directors, community volunteer Joan Kittok and UnitedHealth Group.

Ben Withhart, Executive Director and CEO of SCS says the success of his organization is attributed to community organizations helping seniors, like the programs that help St. Michael's Crow River Senior Center.

"Our success over the years is due, in no small way, to the critical partnerships and networks of support we have with civic groups, businesses, municipalities, faith communities and the more than 5,200 volunteers that help carry out our mission each year," Withhart said in a prepared statement. "Our partners recognize that we all benefit when our elders in need are supported to age in place with dignity.”