[ad_1]
PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO CALL IT A HOME AWAY FROM HOME. I KNOW HOW TO GET OUT HERE. MY GOODNESS, MY GOODNESS, THERE ARE A HUNDRED REASONS WHY THE REGULARS WHO SHOW UP EACH DAY TO THE STANFORD SETTLEMENT SENIOR CENTER KEEP COMING. THE COMPANY, FOR ONE THING. AND THEN THEY HAVE MEALS ON WHEELS. AND THERE’S ALWAYS AN ACTIVITY AT 82. BETTY SPILLMAN ISN’T DRIVING ANYMORE. THEY COME AND PICK YOU UP AND DROP YOU OFF. IT’S VERY CONVENIENT FOR ME. SHE IS STILL MAKING NEW FRIENDS. WELL, SOME OF THE FRIENDSHIPS ARE PRETTY INSANE BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE PRETTY CRAZY, BUT THEY’RE THEIR FRIENDS WHO WOULD BE LIFELONG FRIENDS. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT I ASSOCIATE WITH OUTSIDE OF HERE AS WELL. SO IT’S REALLY GOOD FOR THE SOCIABILITY AND COMMUNITY. FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS OF SOCIAL SERVICE, STANFORD SETTLEMENT BEGAN SERVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS BACK IN 1936. YEARS LATER, ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JULIE RODEN. ALL RIGHT, WHO KEEPS THIS PLACE MOVING FORWARD? I’VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1989. THIS WAS MY UNDERGRADUATE SOCIAL WORK FIELD PLACEMENT, AND I GOT HIRED AND I NEVER LEFT BECAUSE I LOVED THE WORK. I FEEL GRATEFUL TO HAVE STAYED IN ONE PLACE FOR SO LONG. THERE’S A LOT OF FUN ON ANY GIVEN DAY. THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SERVICES FOR SENIORS, TEENS AND CHILDREN. THAT’S ALL YOUR STICKERS ON THE FRONT. LET ME SEE THE FRONT. OH, THAT’S NICE. SEE MY STICKERS? I DO WANT TO SEE. OH, YOU HAVE STICKERS TOO. THAT’S FUN. THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS TO LIVE IN ONE OF THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO NEIGHBORHOODS IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING STANFORD. ROTTEN SAYS IT’S THE TEEN PROGRAMS THAT ARE HARDEST TO FUNDRAISE FOR. IF THEY’RE NOT AT A PROGRAM LIKE OURS, WHAT ARE THEY DOING? ARE THEY HOME ALONE? ARE THEY RUNNING AROUND IN THE COMMUNITY? AND AND KIDS NEED A SAFE SPACE. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A THIRD SPACE. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YOUR HOME, YOU HAVE YOUR SCHOOL, AND YOU HAVE YOUR STANFORD TEEN CENTER AS A SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY, STANFORD SETTLEMENT RELIES ON GRANTS, DONORS AND GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO KEEP ITS DOORS OPEN. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SERVE GENERATIONS OF ONE COMMUNITY? IT’S SO REWARDING. IT’S, YOU KNOW, THE AGE AND WISDOM OF THE SENIORS AND THE NEW BRIGHT ENERGY OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE. IT’S REALLY EXCITING. I’VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. IT WAS AT THE SENIOR CENTER. SPILLMAN AND DARLENE BAXTER CROSSED PATHS AND BECAME FAST FRIENDS. I AM REALLY GRATEFUL, I REALLY AM, I REALLY AM. I COME EVERY DAY. WE SIT AROUND AND WE TALK. THEY PLAY CARDS, THEY PLAY BINGO, THEY PLAY POOL. THE PAIR ENCOURAGED ALL SENIORS TO FIND ANY NUMBER OF REASONS TO KEEP BUILDING COMMUNITY, AND MAYBE EVEN DO SO HERE. I TELL THEM, COME ON OUT. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE MISSING. THEY REALLY DON’T. IN SACRAMENTO. LEE ANNE DENYER. KCRA THREE NEWS. THE ORGANIZATION’S ANNUAL MONTE CARLO NIGHT FUNDRAISER IS COMING UP ON FRIDAY. WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET TICKETS
Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center fosters community in north Sacramento
Stanford Settlement, a nonprofit organization in north Sacramento, has been serving the community since 1936, providing essential services and cultivating a community for local seniors, teens, and children.
Updated: 6:54 PM PDT Oct 8, 2025
Since 1936, Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center has served Sacramento families, offering resources and safe spaces to seniors, teens and children in north Sacramento, Del Paso Heights, Gardenland, Northgate and Natomas. “People come to Stanford Settlement when they’re young, they grow up, they go out in the world, they come back. Some of their children come here now,” said Executive Director Julie Rhoten. The senior center, in particular, is a popular spot for regular visitors, like Betty Spillman, 82. She no longer drives and finds the transportation helpful for getting to and from the center to catch up with friends.”They come and pick you up and drop you off. It’s very convenient for me,” she said. “They’re friends who would be lifelong friends and they’re people that I associate with outside of here as well. It’s really good for the sociability and community.”Staff offer rides to seniors who need transportation, as well as meals, activities and general support.“It’s a family feeling in the building. The senior center is designed to make sure that seniors can live independently, where they want to live, as they age. And a great way to do that is by avoiding isolation,” Rhoten said.Rhoten began at Stanford Settlement in 1989. “This is my undergraduate social work field placement, and I got hired and I never left because I love the work,” she said of her tenure. “I feel grateful to have stayed in one place for so long.The organization relies on grants, fundraising and support from local government to operate. Rhoten said teen programming is often the most challenging to fund.“We’re really looking at the social emotional health of kids, making sure that they can have a safe space to practice decision making,” she said. “Some people call it a third space, your home. You have your school and you have your Stanford Teen Center.”Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center’s annual Monte Carlo Night fundraiser is scheduled for Friday. Tickets are still available.For anyone who wants to learn more, donate or get involved, follow this link. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Since 1936, Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center has served Sacramento families, offering resources and safe spaces to seniors, teens and children in north Sacramento, Del Paso Heights, Gardenland, Northgate and Natomas.
“People come to Stanford Settlement when they’re young, they grow up, they go out in the world, they come back. Some of their children come here now,” said Executive Director Julie Rhoten.
The senior center, in particular, is a popular spot for regular visitors, like Betty Spillman, 82. She no longer drives and finds the transportation helpful for getting to and from the center to catch up with friends.
“They come and pick you up and drop you off. It’s very convenient for me,” she said. “They’re friends who would be lifelong friends and they’re people that I associate with outside of here as well. It’s really good for the sociability and community.”
Staff offer rides to seniors who need transportation, as well as meals, activities and general support.
“It’s a family feeling in the building. The senior center is designed to make sure that seniors can live independently, where they want to live, as they age. And a great way to do that is by avoiding isolation,” Rhoten said.
Rhoten began at Stanford Settlement in 1989.
“This is my undergraduate social work field placement, and I got hired and I never left because I love the work,” she said of her tenure. “I feel grateful to have stayed in one place for so long.
The organization relies on grants, fundraising and support from local government to operate. Rhoten said teen programming is often the most challenging to fund.
“We’re really looking at the social emotional health of kids, making sure that they can have a safe space to practice decision making,” she said. “Some people call it a third space, your home. You have your school and you have your Stanford Teen Center.”
Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center’s annual Monte Carlo Night fundraiser is scheduled for Friday. Tickets are still available.
For anyone who wants to learn more, donate or get involved, follow this link.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
[ad_2]