Emporia Senior Center Director Ian Boyd’s decision this week to keep the facility closed until June was “extremely difficult” for several reasons.
The facility has been shut down since mid-March as the coronavirus pandemic continues, meaning activities like bingo, community events and others have been canceled. This means a restructuring of the Senior Center’s budget is coming — and, in fact, Boyd says the center’s board is considering a deficit budget.
Bingo has become the center’s biggest fundraiser and overall revenue stream, with private donations coming in second and allocations from the county mil levy third on the list. Boyd says a social-distancing requirement could reduce attendance by 60 to 70 percent. Another loss is coming as the center begins to refund previously scheduled activities for the prom and graduation period.
Major exterior repairs are needed with gutters and siding to be replaced. The Senior Center was in the process of getting bids for that work and had received money to replace its walk-in cooler before COVID-19 came to the area.
Boyd says seniors have been understanding, but they would like to see life return to normal.
Boyd says the Senior Center is moving more towards virtual activities, although bingo is not on that list. The facility is also tentatively planning on holding its second annual Christmas Gala this fall, as well as selling some gift shop items online or selling homemade frozen meals.
While those discussions continue, the Senior Center has delivered care packages to residents at Broadview Towers and also those served by the Midland Care Connection PACE program. The Senior Center is requesting donations of hand sanitizer and masks as it prepares to reopen later this year.
For more information about the Senior Center, call 343-3160 or find the center on Facebook.
