SOS Celebrates One Year of Stronger Advocacy for Older Adults
Last month marked an exciting milestone for SOS: one full year since expanding our advocacy efforts with the hiring of our first Director of Advocacy, Kim Olson. Thanks to the generous support of the Crescent Porter Hale Foundation, which made a multi-year grant of $300,000 to partially fund Advocacy Department staffing as well as a pilot program to enhance the cultural relevance of our meals, we were able to redouble our commitment to representing older adults across Alameda County.
Though advocacy has always been part of SOS’s mission, dedicating focused leadership to this work has made a real difference. Deep advocacy work is critical when conducted on behalf of a population that is often isolated. Taking time to connect and build relationships with our community is vital.
“Because the seniors we serve are homebound, they are often not a part of policy discussions, but those decisions can have significant impacts on their lives. Having a dedicated team allows for personal engagement and ensures that the client’s voice is part of everything we do. It has brought our community of supporters and clients closer to the work, and—in doing so—made our advocacy messaging more powerful,” said Kim.
Over the past year, SOS has strengthened partnerships with local governments, ensuring that decision-makers better understand the needs of aging adults and the impact of our services. The results are already visible. “We have received direct feedback in every municipality we serve that an understanding of who we serve—and the value of the service we provide—is increasing,” Executive Director Charlie Deterline noted. Charlie also emphasized how this investment benefits not just SOS but the entire community. “By improving our ability to lift up the voices of those we serve and to effectively speak to their needs, we become a more valuable partner in the overall effort in Alameda County to ensure that needs are known, acknowledged, and—ideally—met.” Staff, volunteers, and even Board members have stepped up, attending budget meetings and speaking directly to leaders about the importance of our mission.
The Crescent Porter Hale Foundation’s support has been crucial in making this progress possible. “We had some big advocacy wins in the last budget cycle, fighting to protect baseline funding at the city and county levels,” Kim said. “The City of Oakland restored funds that were cut last year and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors has recently restored funding to our previous levels. I’m most proud of the community engagement that made those wins possible.”
As SOS looks ahead, Charlie’s focus remains on empowering more stakeholders—clients, volunteers, and supporters—to join the effort. “We’re really excited for us all to continue to get better at this together and to do a whole lot more of it.”
This anniversary isn’t just about celebrating a year of advocacy—it’s about recognizing how much farther we can go when we speak up together. With a stronger voice and deeper partnerships, SOS is ensuring our elder neighbors in Alameda County are seen, heard, and supported. Here’s to another year of making an even greater impact!