Senior Citizens Council in Financial Crisis – Future of Senior Bus Uncertain
Unless you are over 55, you may not be familiar with Manchester Area Senior Citizens Council. This group, made up of citizens 55 and older, meets monthly, puts out a monthly newsletter, runs the twice-weekly senior lunch, delivers lunch to the homebound, and runs the senior bus which takes seniors to the meals, events and to medical appointments. These services, which are relied upon by a number of seniors in our community, cost much more each month than the Senior Council has to spend on them. Although local organizations have come through with some stop-gap funding, the situation as it now stands is not sustainable.
Because of this crisis, the Senior Citizens Council is holding a Visioning Day on Saturday, January 30th from 8:30am to 3 pm at the Emanuel United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall located at 324 W. Main Street, to help determine what the future looks like for seniors in our community. They are inviting everyone in the community to help.
The senior council faces expenses of between $2,000 and $3,000 a month above their income. The major costs are for bus maintenance, fuel, insurance, workmen’s comp, wages for the cook and bus driver, and food. The only grant they currently receive is from the State of Michigan’s Local Rural Transportation Program which can only be used toward transportation costs and covers less than half of the cost of running the bus. Seniors do pay $4 for each meal and each time they ride the bus, but this does not come close to covering the group’s expenses.
The Visioning Day will be an opportunity for governmental officials, local business leaders, educational committee representatives, representatives of service organizations, and all people interested in the future of Manchester Area Senior Citizens Council to work together to secure a future of food, fun, and transportation for Manchester area residents over 55. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. For more information or to make a reservation call Holly Porter at 428-7304 or Dianne Schwab at 428-8976 before January 20th. Donations will be accepted to help offset the cost of lunch and refreshments.
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