Senior center faces cost increases

Keeping open and serving community is a priority 

With many families facing increased food, fuel and utility costs, Weston County Senior Services faces all of the same increases, only on a much larger scale.

For families, these costs can easily increase by the hundreds; however, since WCSS prepares, serves and delivers meals throughout the county and provides a community van service, the costs can increase by a thousand or more.

WCSS moved from Main Street in 2003 to its current location at 627 Pine St. after a new elementary school was built in Newcastle. The old school, Gertrude Burns Elementary, was repurposed to house the Weston County Senior Citizen Center and Senior Suites.

The facility has replaced the entire roof in phases with capital campaign funding and generous community donations. Recent roof renovations on the east side of the building, which is a flat roof, were completed with a generous $56,000 donation made by local residents Pat and Barb Crow.  

The facility houses two different sides of the operation, Weston County Senior Services is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, while Senior Suites is a for-profit entity with 10 independent living apartments for renters age 60 and older. A local loan was obtained to convert elementary classrooms into 10 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. The apartments are all electric with walk-in showers, appliances and a washer/dryer. Two units are handicapped accessible.

Carolyn Shields, WCSS director, said Weston County Senior Services pays water, sewer and garbage, while renters pay their own electricity. She noted that the apartments are typically fully rented, with a fairly long waiting list. Shields added that, with the recent roof replacement on the east side, there is now room for expansion and the board may consider adding a few more apartments in the future.

“We are very grateful for all the donations we receive. People are really good and very generous,” she said.

The nonprofit side of WCSS employs nine full-time and three part-time staff members who provide many needed services in the community. At the Upton facility, there are two part-time employees.

“We can’t pay that much because we are (a) nonprofit. There’s some faithful people that are working here. We’ve got a good crew,” Shields said. “I like to stay in the background. It takes all of us from cleaning toilets to writing grants to make this place a success.” 

On average, the center prepares and serves 125 meals a day, Monday through Friday, which includes eat-in and home-delivered meals. About 21 meals are delivered to Upton each day. For seniors, age 60 and up, the cost per meal is $5 and for those under 60, a meal is $7. Shields said anyone can eat at the center. On Friday mornings, kitchen staff bake and sell caramel rolls, which are very popular with community members.     

“Food costs have gone up tremendously. We have to have our menus approved,” she said.

Shields noted that people in the community volunteer to deliver meals around town to homes, and she noted that both local banks support the meal program. 

“First Northern Bank employees deliver meals on Wednesdays, and Pinnacle Bank purchases monthly meal tickets that we put in a birthday month drawing,” she said.

Community transportation is another service the WCSS provides. Shields said that anyone who needs a ride can use the service for the suggested donation of one dollar per ride in town. The van service can be used for out-of-town medical appointments at 40 cents per mile. Help is  available for people who cannot afford the fee, she said.

“We have many volunteer drivers that help with out-of-town trips. We have some awesome drivers,” she said.

Utility costs are another concern, and Shields explained that WCSS’ utility bills last month were $3,000. When winter hits, she said, those bills can increase to $5,000. 

The senior center also serves as a gathering place in the community and can be rented for weddings, birthdays, holiday get-togethers and other special events. The old gymnasium and kitchen facilities can accommodate a large event with numerous attendees. Some of the events held at the center are meetings, gun shows, health fairs, wreath auctions, holiday bazaars and local blood draws. 

“We don’t charge for funerals,” she said.

Community members can participate in the many activities held at the senior center — from quilting, games (dominoes and bridge), dancing, exercise classes, movie nights, AA and NA meetings, Community Education kids’ yoga classes and Zumba and much more. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, people are welcome to use an exercise room and also walk the halls to keep in shape. The center has a community garden area, grocery store and loan closet. It also houses the BREAD office.

While increased costs and making ends meet are a concern for Shields and the board members, Shields said she focuses on the services they provide in the community. 

“We feel like we are an important part of the community,” she said.

Galen Stafford, a five-year senior center board member and current vice president, said the center is the kind of community service that generates a space for seniors and the community, and the space provides a place for seniors to bond.

Stafford said his being a senior is the reason he serves on the board.

“We just try to move forward and improve things. Funding is probably the biggest obstacle with the cost of living increasing costs,” he said.        

Shields, who has been employed at WCSS for three decades and has served as director for the past 11 years, handles grant writing and state reports for the facility. She noted that some of the federal and state grant funding has decreased for the center, adding that the facility can always use financial and volunteer help.

“We can always use volunteers to deliver meals and take people out of town for appointments,” she said.

Shields said a grant donation match of $50,000 from local residents Don and Lois Thorson was recently made to the senior center. The couple hopes their donation will inspire others to donate.

“I am so just so grateful for this donation and all the donations we receive in support of our facility. It helps us out so much,” she said. 

A final question was what her future goal for WCSS is, and Shields had a quick response.

“To keep the doors open and to keep it going and keep servicing our seniors and others in the community,” she said.