$34,164 in grants awarded to Connellsville/Masontown senior centers
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging awarded two Fayette County senior centers a combined $34,164 in grant money as part of its commitment to help keep older adults healthy, engaged, empowered and informed.
Funding includes $29,694 for Masontown Senior Community Center and $4,200 for Connellsville Senior Community Center.
The grants are part of $2 million in funding to be awarded by the aging department for 2014-15.
According to Suzanne Bellotti, Department of Aging’s Senior Center program coordinator, the grant awards are intended to advance senior community center projects that will help modernize facilities, encourage technology improvements and expand innovative programming.
“The centers have to maintain certain standards to be in compliance,” said, Gwendolyn Ridgley, Fayette County supervisor of Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging.
Connellsville and Masontown are among 37 senior community centers associated with the agency.
Centers offer a wide variety of programs and services including healthy and nutritious meal programs, enrichment programs, educational opportunities, transportation services, financial and insurance counseling and social and recreational activities.
At Connellsville, the grant will be used for new tile in the center’s utility room and two bathrooms.
Patricia Pritts, director of Connellsville Senior Community Center, said the tile would replace that on the existing floor from 1983.
Over the years, Pritts said the senior center has utilized other grant funding to purchase a stove and freezer along with other updates.
“There’s always something we need to have done,” said Pritts. “The building is aging and there’s things that need be taken care of.”
Pritts said the senior center averages about 50 people a day while providing meals on wheels to about 250 people.
Kristin Dunham, Chief Executive Officer of Albert Gallatin Human Services, said Masontown’s senior center will be using the grant to upgrade the back entrance to provide access for those using assisted devices.
Dunham said work includes a handicap ramp, concrete pad and sidewalk. “Right now there’s street parking so this will be safer.”
Dunham added that prior grant money was used to replace the senior center roof.
On average, Dunham said the senior center serves about 35 people a day and provides 200 home bound meals.
“As our older adult population continues to grow, it is important for senior community centers to be effective resources in engaging our older adults to live and age well,” said Secretary of Aging, Brian Duke. “These grants will assist centers in enhancing programming, attracting new members and building on successful practices.”