GREENVILLE — With quilting needles dropped and lost in aging carpet and seniors struggling to move gracefully with walkers and canes tripping up on ripped seams, the Greenville Area Senior Citizens Center needed a few upgrades.
Members of the Greenville Area Senior Citizens Center in Greenville take time to tour the facility Oct. 16 with new flooring installed throughout the building. — DN Photo | Cory Smith
Thanks to a partnership with the Greenville Area Community Foundation (GACF), such improvements have started, with more on the way, to the delight of many in the community who utilize the facility for comfort and recreation.
This summer, seniors celebrated the installation of new carpet throughout the entire building, both laminate and carpet placed throughout various areas, providing a safer, more enjoyable walking space for visitors of the Center to enjoy.
“In my opinion, it’s fabulous,” Center Treasurer Barbara Abrahamsen said. “We had cracked flooring, ripped carpeting, it wasn’t safe. This just really elevates everything. I think people are happier coming here.”
Standing with several members of the Senior Center Board as they checked out the new flooring, Secretary Margaret Durga said the new upgrades will go a long way in creating a more welcome environment.
“It’s stain-free at this point, hopefully, it stays that way,” she said with a laugh. “It was pretty ragged before, so this was a much-needed improvement.”
The upgrade was made possible thanks to a grant from the GACF of about $14,000.
That grant came following an initial grant to the Center in 2019 for about $7,500 for new roofing on the facility.
Following two grants awarded by the Greenville Area Community Foundation in the past two years, a third grant was awarded by the Foundation Oct. 19 to the Greenville Area Senior Citizens Center for $25,666 for building upgrades including painting the interior of the building, electrical upgrades, repairs to the access ramp and installation of an ADA-compliant entrance door. — DN Photo | Cory Smith
Additionally, on Oct. 19, the GACF Board voted to award a third grant in as many years to the Center, this time in the amount of $25,666 for building upgrades including painting the interior of the building, electrical upgrades, repairs to the access ramp and installation of an ADA-compliant entrance door.
“The partnership with the foundation is absolutely stupendous,” Abrahamsen said. “We want easier access for anyone who needs it, that’s our next step, and we couldn’t do it without the Foundation.
Abrahamsen said the Center stays open through annual $20 dues paid by its roughly 150 members, donations, rental fees and funding from the Montcalm County Commission on aging.
But that funding comes nowhere near close enough to pay for thousands of dollars in needed upgrades.
The prior carpeting had not been replaced since the Center was purchased and converted from its former life as a church in 1994, and most else at the Center has also remained unchanged.
According to Amy O’Brien, director of grants and communications at the foundation, the grants bestowed upon the Center aim to do exactly what the foundation was established for.
Members of the Greenville Area Senior Citizens Center celebrated new improvements at the Center this summer thanks to several grants from the Greenville Area Community Foundation (GACF). Pictured, back row from left, GACF Director of Grants and Communications, Amy O’Brien, Citizens Center Board Trustee Barbara Brunges and Trustee Kay Leach; front row from left, Trustee Randy Treynor, Vice President Sandi LaLone, Treasurer Barbara Abrahamsen, Secretary Margaret Durga and Trustee Colleen Hansen. — DN Photo | Cory Smith
“This is exciting,” she said. “We do recognize that this is an important community organization, a community asset, that we want to help be around for years and years to come. Our donors, that’s what they want of us at the foundation — to give back to the community. The Senior Center is one of those places that we know are doing good things for this community.”
While the Senior Center has not yet re-oped at 100% due to the coronavirus pandemic, Abrahamsen said she is hopeful that “within the next month” all operations can resume with restrictions in place.
In the meantime, the center has been operating on a limited basis with a few small groups — from quilters to Zumba participants — meeting throughout the week“We’re very limited right now,” Abrahamsen said. “One reason we let a few groups in is because they bring us income and they are following the rules. They set up the tables far apart and are wearing their masks. We also have wipes and sanitizer set up for them to use.”
The senior center, located at 715 S. Baldwin St., is open to hosting citizens age 40 and up, with an annual membership fee of $20, which comes with a monthly activity calendar and bi-monthly newsletter alerting of upcoming events and programs.
For more information on the senior center, email admin@gascc.net or call (616) 754-1658.
"center" - Google News
October 26, 2020 at 07:07PM
https://ift.tt/3kwqQ0R
Senior center spiff up - Greenville Daily News
"center" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3bUHym8
https://ift.tt/2zR6ugj
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Senior center spiff up - Greenville Daily News"
Post a Comment