DE SCR46

Recognizes CHEER's 50th anniversary in July 2021, celebrating five decades of service to seniors aged 50 and over in Sussex County.

CHEER was established July 23, 1971, by Rev. Dr. Milton Keene as a nonprofit providing in-home health services and has expanded to include meal programs, transportation, adult day care, and personal care services.

Organization operates six community centers (Georgetown, Milton, Roxana, Lewes, Ocean View, and Long Neck) and completed a new $1.4 million kitchen facility in Georgetown designed to produce 2,625 meals daily.

CHEER's meal program has grown dramatically from 26,429 meals in 1974 to 1,000,000+ meals served annually in recent years, with the organization providing over 1,000,000 meals in both 2010-2014 and 2015-2017 periods.

Continued operations during COVID-19 pandemic by adapting services, including modified Operation Christmas CHEER for approximately 250 homebound seniors and offering internet-based activities to combat isolation and depression.