Officials from the Jamestown Area Senior Center want the center to be an entity in the community for years to come, but fear that darker times may be ahead.
Shirley Vandenburg, the center's activities director, said she is grateful for the $5,500 contribution from the City Council, but fears that it may not be enough to keep the center afloat.
"Our members are only expected to contribute $10 a year for membership fees," said Vandenburg. "The problem with the senior center is that when you lose a member to ill health or worse, your number of members drops. We lose our only self-generated funds when this happens, and often times finding new members is difficult because we have even less funds to support activities."
Vandenburg said one of the most difficult problems the center faces is affording to pay for both rent and insurance fees. She said that $2,200 additional a year would provide the necessary revenue to comfortably pay for both rent and insurance.
Vandenburg also said that due to monetary restraints and lack of volunteers, many programs the center has held in past years have been cut.
"We used to have a trainer come in once a week and facilitate our exercise program, but she had to stop due to complications of old age," said Vandenburg. "Now we have to resort to a video to lead our (exercise sessions). We used to have a volunteer come in and host blood-pressure readings, but she also was forced to stop."
Additionally, the center goes bowling twice a month, plays bingo once a month and offers a potluck dinner the fourth Tuesday of every month.
Vandenburg said she believes the center is an integral part of the community, and for some seniors, the center is the only opportunity they have to interact with others and get out of their homes.
Vandenburg also fears that many seniors in the area are unaware of the center altogether because it has no advertising budget and lacks members who are proficient in areas such as social media. She said she would love for volunteers such as Jamestown Community College students and other interested members of the community to give two to three hours a week to help bring back old activities and start new activities, as well as finding donations to help the center pay for costs.
Nelson J. Garifi Jr., executive director of marketing and academic initiatives at JCC, said the connection with the center has never been made before, but that college officials would be interested in looking into such opportunities as pairing up honors students who are required to perform community service with the senior center.
Vandenburg said the center is always looking for new members. Interested seniors over the age of 60 may join for $10 a year and can contact Vandenburg at 484-1627 for information. Anyone interested in volunteer work can call the same number for more information.
