Senior citizens still hoping “home” is just around the corner

Meals for senior citizens (several of whom are shown here at Riverside Intermediate School’s senior luncheon in December) are an important component of the programs that MASCC is trying to implement.

by Marsha Chartrand

“Our main purpose is just to keep the services going and eventually to be able to provide new services to the seniors and to the community,” said Pat Vailliencourt, speaking about the proposed senior center at 912 City Road that is still in the planning stages with City Council.

When initial cost estimates for renovations on the garage on the ground level of City Hall, came in far higher than the $136,000 grant that the senior citizens had obtained from Washtenaw County and the additional fundraising of up to a total of $170,000 that the seniors had committed to on their own, it was back to the drawing board … and back to the discussion table with the Council.

At its February 6 meeting, Council determined that it was not willing to spend additional taxpayer funds without a better concept of how the existing space could be used and what items were essential to the success of a senior center and what could be considered “wish list” items.

One essential component to any successful senior citizens program is a consistent meal program, which requires a commercial kitchen and certified cook. During renovations to the disabled access at Emanuel Church and the loss of their cook, the Manchester United Methodist Church offered to provide a home, and Washtenaw County has promised to provide meals once certification there is complete. A walk-through is planned for February 22. The seniors expect meals to begin the week of March 5.

Once this program begins, it will be year-round and meals will be served in-house at the church. It is essential that seniors attend the meals, as the program is only intended for on-site consumption. And the fellowship is part of it, too!

“Now that the holidays are past, we are going to organize our fundraising efforts,” Vailliencourt said. “And we’re hoping the community will give us even broader support, so that we can reach our goal quicker.”

She noted that the River Raisin Distillery had offered to host a spaghetti dinner with the seniors, the group is looking at traditional fundraisers like bake sales, and they’d love to bring in more people and fresh ideas. They are looking at other grant opportunities as they meet with architects this week to get drawings based on the original scope of the project. Then it will be possible to obtain realistic bids for actual costs, and they can go from there. The seniors will need ongoing support for their efforts and to build their membership to remain self-sustaining as they will still be responsible for utilities on the space they will be using as well.

“The community has been so generous,” Vailliencourt said. “We really hope we can get that kind of support again.”

Some cost savings, if warranted, may be realized by utilizing space in the Village Room, which is already used for many community and library activities. Any shared scheduling will be handled through the City offices and Council will set the guidelines for activities and usage.

But the seniors will once again have a place to call “their own” and enjoy the fellowship and fun they came to share in their prior “homes.”

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.