ALTON 鈥 Senior Services Plus is many things to many people: a provider of in-home care for Metro East seniors, a crucial source of meals for retirees and kids alike, and even a place where people can learn sign language or attend Spanish Club.
The nonprofit is also a rewarding place to work, say a wide range of its employees 鈥 thanks largely to its community-minded mission of helping others.
鈥淵ou feel like you鈥檙e really doing a service,鈥 said Michelle Shrout, a Meals on Wheels assistant with SSP. 鈥淭his is much needed, and I enjoy that I鈥檓 a small part of it.鈥
Many others share a like-minded outlook, added Leslie Eberlin, SSP鈥檚 marketing and development coordinator.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just for a paycheck, but for a cause we all believe in,鈥 she said.
Senior Services Plus has been named a 亚洲无码 2024 Top Workplace, based on employee surveys. The agency employs more than 500 people, most of whom are home-care aides who help older adults with bathing and other essential activities.
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But pop into different parts of its headquarters in Alton, and one sees how diverse SSP鈥檚 work is, as employees keep things humming across more than a dozen different programs run by the organization, from helping line up home repairs to overseeing grant-funded support of 鈥渇oster grandparents鈥 who give kids mentorship and assistance with school.
Despite that breadth of responsibilities, SSP workers of different stripes echo a shared sense of pride about the tangible 鈥 and gratifying 鈥 difference that they make in the lives of others.
鈥淵ou get to see that the people really need it, and they鈥檙e appreciative of it, too,鈥 said Sean Payne, SSP鈥檚 nutrition manager, who helps oversee the production of food that goes to both seniors and kids in need.
The organization uses an annual budget of more than $16 million to serve 32,000 people each year, said SSP leaders.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very rewarding 鈥 you know at the end of the day how you鈥檝e helped people,鈥 adds Stacy Noble Loveland, SSP鈥檚 director of operations.
Plenty of internal cooperation helps, too, she said.
鈥淲e each have our own lane, but we always are helping each other,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always that good sense of teamwork.鈥
Some said that seemingly any skill set can find a valuable role within the organization.
鈥淲hatever skills you have, you can make use of those here ... and you can see the effects,鈥 said Gordon Voumard, who helps schedule repairs and maintenance work that makes seniors鈥 homes more energy efficient 鈥 saving them money, while also cutting the electric grid some slack and slashing carbon emissions.
Beyond the mission itself, SSP employees also tout other perks that help with morale and worker retention: like good benefits, management that supports a healthy work-life balance, free gym access, and regular social events, such as employee appreciation days.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot more perks than a lot of companies would give,鈥 said Kathy Kothe, the director of the information and assistance department.
And some point to ample chances for advancement within the organization, as evidenced by SSP鈥檚 own CEO, Theresa Collins, who has progressed through a series of other roles over her 15 years on the payroll.
鈥淲e have a lot of those stories throughout the building,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of opportunities for growth.鈥