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Ground broken for new senior center |
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Wednesday, December 05 2007 |
 Post & Mail photo/ T J Hemlinger
By TJ HEMLINGER
Staff writer
City and county officials, representatives of the Council on Aging and private citizens broke ground on a new senior citizens center on Opportunity Drive on the north side of Columbia City Tuesday afternoon.
Construction is scheduled to begin Monday and take approximately six months.
Funding for the project to date totals $975,000 and comes from several sources: $500,000 from a Community Focus Grant; $100,000 from the Whitley County Community Foundation; $25,000 from Columbia City government; $100,000 in community donations; and $250,000 from Council on Aging bequests and savings.
Jackie Hake, director of the Whitley County Council on Aging, said they still need approximately $88,000 for landscaping and furniture, among other items.
“Once the (new) building is up and we move in, the present building (at 603 W. Van Buren St.) has been given to us by the county and the proceeds will be put to the building project,” Hake said.
“What we do that is important to our senior community is that we provide transportation for them, homemaker service to the homebound seniors, a nutrition site with home-delivered meals and daily congregate meals at the center,” Hake said. “We offer daily activities and programs at the center, including movies, cards, exercises, luncheons, bingo, crafts, etc.
“We have a food pantry, a bread pantry, a food giveaway and the Senior Pack program.”
The center also offers tax service in season, foot care, insurance counseling and other services, including loaner equipment and supplies to like Depends and Poise for those who need them.
“We are the best-kept secret in the county, and we want the word out about all that we do,” Hake said.
The new center will be larger and more comfortable, Hake reported.
“Once we move we will have a computer lab and possibly offer classes provided by the Freedom Academy, as well as increased public transportation for the whole county,” Hake said. “The Council on Aging and Senior Center are definite assets to the seniors and residents of Whitley County.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, December 06 2007 )
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