Crowdfunding campaign launched for the Manchester Area Senior Center and Community Events Center

An event at what was hoped to be the seniors’ permanent home. Courtesy Patronicity.

by Marsha Chartrand

The Manchester Area Senior Citizens Council (MASCC) has established a $50,000 goal to win a matching grant through Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative. The button was officially pushed at 10am on Wednesday, July 3, by Pat Vailliencourt, who is chairing the 60-day Patronicity Michigan-based crowdfunding campaign.

The City of Manchester will be activating a vacant space in City Hall to create a permanent senior and community center through the campaign’s anticipated success. If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by September 3, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/manchester.

“Community elders are the backbone of the day-to-day civic economy in our cities and towns, and it is important that we have a space for them to commune and spend time,” said MEDC Regional Development Managing Director Paula Holtz in a prepared statement. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

MASCC has never had a place to call home so the City of Manchester is partnering with the group, committing to a 1,200-square-foot area, rent free, for the seniors to renovate for a permanent community center that will serve as a safe place for seniors to have meals and engage in educational and social activities. It will also be available for intergenerational activities and other community activities.

The campaign will allow MASCC to secure the final portion of funding needed to complete the transformation of the space into a fully functional community gathering space and center for seniors and the greater Manchester community.

“Throughout our history, the Manchester area senior citizens have depended upon others to provide a space for critical services,” said Vailliencourt, Director of the Senior Center. “Thanks to the PSCP grant opportunity, for the first time we will be able to provide a safe, permanent facility for our seniors to have meals and engage in educational, healthy lifestyles and social activities.”

The seniors’ “home,” part of Manchester City Hall, is currently being used as cold storage in the former old Ford Building at 912 City Rd. Project renovation will include HVAC, new windows (with a view of the river and the woods), new ceiling tiles, flooring, furniture, a kitchen, a handicap bathroom, storage area, and a handicap access door direct from the parking lot.

To help MASCC meet their goal and secure a matching grant of $50,000 from MEDC, you can donate online by clicking the orange “contribute” button at https://www.patronicity.com/project/manchester_area_senior_center_and_community_event_center#!/ or through the mail by sending cash or check to Manchester Area Senior Citizens, P.O. Box 31, Manchester, MI 48158. If you have questions or inquiries please contact Pat Vailliencourt at (734) 385-6319.

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits, and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“Feeling that you belong and have a place in your community is crucial for the human experience,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “Senior citizens can often struggle with isolation and a lack of connection. This project’s dedication to providing a place for people of all ages in the community will create a lasting positive impact in the Manchester area.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of July 1, 2024, MEDC has provided more than $12.9 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 383 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $14.7 million raised from 71,121 individual donors. Communities have had a 97% success rate in achieving their goals and earning matching funds.

Currently, the Manchester project has nearly 1,000 patrons and official donations of $22,678. Let’s help make this project a success!

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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.