Interfaith – Over 30 Years of Enhancing the Lives of Older Adults

The Interfaith Program for the Elderly (now Interfaith Older Adult Programs) began in 1973 on Milwaukee’s East Side when members of congregations realized that older persons were becoming increasingly isolated in their neighborhoods. With the help of the Greater Milwaukee Commission on Religion and Urban Affairs (now called the Interfaith Conference), several congregations formed the first Neighborhood Outreach Program. They believed that they could answer the call to reach out to older persons better together than separately.

Cudahy-St. Francis Interfaith was one of the original Interfaith neighborhood organizations. The program started providing services in 1977 and soon had forty volunteers serving older adults. Cudahy-St. Francis Interfaith incorporated in 1979. Since it’s inception, Interfaith’s dedicated volunteers have given thousands of hours of time to help older adults. Interfaith’s volunteers and staff provide needed services such as transportation, friendly visits, information, advocacy and referral. In 1999, Interfaith working with Middle School and High School students, began providing snow-shoveling services for older adults in Cudahy. The City of Cudahy funds this program.

In 2007, long-time Director Phyllis Dettman retired. In October of 2008, the Boards of Directors of Cudahy/St. Francis Neighborhood Outreach Program and Project Concern hired Mark Peters as Executive Director of both organizations.

In August 2011 as cost savings measure the supervision and office space for the Cudahy-St. Francis Interfaith Program for the Elderly and Project Concern the food pantry that serves Cudahy and St. Francis have been integrated but each organization will maintain its own identity and community presence. All services will be maintained.