By Stephen Smoot
Like a number of community service agencies in the past year, the Hardy County Committee on Aging has had to take tough looks at how to best use limited, and in some cases diminishing, resources and extend financial resilience into the future.
“This past year, we’ve had to reorganize, look at everything, explained Mike Crites, Director of the Hardy County Committee on Aging. “We’ve gone down to the bone on our programs” to restore financial stability, he then shared. After that process, Crites could report “we are financially stable and living within our means.”
“So where do we go from here?” he asked rhetorically, then answered “We get down to the business of being a senior center.”
Senior centers provide an important link connecting the social, economic, and sometimes health needs of older residents. The physical building provides a place to gather, to eat nutritious meals with friends, to enjoy activities, or to just relax in a safe and comfortable haven away from home. Excursions take participants to enjoyable recreation away from home and the center.
Important beyond the benefits for the seniors themselves, senior centers save taxpayer dollars by keeping older people more independent for more time. They also try to provide a better quality of life in ways both appropriate and possible.
“Getting down to the bone” of programs did not focus only on how to fit them into a budget, but also to “look at how to better the program from both the financial aspect and in serving our seniors. How do we better serve them and remain fiscally responsible.” said Crites.
One of the more costly, but most vital, of the programs lay in its nutritional services. These include the communal meals served for lunch. Crites described that the center, under federal law, must offer a fish or other seafood option at least twice a month. He explained how he and the staff sought out tastier options, some of which cost less. Last Thursday, the seniors enjoyed a new item, the “crabby patty.”
“They seemed to go over very well,” he stated.
Senior center facilities exist to promote a more active lifestyle for seniors, especially those with limited means. Popular options include arts and crafts classes. Crites shared that Wardensville Mayor Betsy Orndoff-Sayers “has an art program over there. We’re trying to bring it over here.”
Of course recreational trips provide great opportunities for both fun and also mental and physical stimulation. “Our first trip was to Buccees,” Crites said. Buccees is a Texas-based chain of gas station convenience stores that offer wide selections of prepared foods, gifts, and other fun merchandise. Another trip took seniors to shop at Apple Blossom Mall right before Christmas.
Crafts, trips, and other activities do more than keep seniors active. “A craft is more than a craft,” said Crites “it’s thought process. It’s dexterity in their hands.” He made the point that seniors need to work their muscles and minds to stay as active as possible for as long as possible.
Crites shared that the staff has started working on a possible “Senior Prom” for older residents across the community. Initial discussions have pointed toward holding it around the same time as the high school’s event.
He added that he and the COA Board “are open to suggestions on how to improve and serve more people.” The center welcomes ideas from the entire community, both fellow agencies and individuals should feel welcome to provide input, stated Crites.
Forging partner relationships and maintaining those that have supported the COA remain a priority for Crites and the Board. The Board itself has served as a forum to build tangible support. Including representatives from Pilgrims and American Woodmark.”The Board has been very supportive. They’ve sent manpower, financial support, product,” said Crites. He went on to add that “Pilgrims gives us chicken, which keeps my bottom line.”
He went on to explain that donations of food offset costs. The center gets reimbursed $7 for a congregant meal, but may spend $11. “We have to make that difference up,” he stated and praised generous donors whose contributions have helped to make the difference. Crites explained that maintaining donations is an ongoing process of working with the community. A proposed meeting of COA with other community service agencies is expected to increase both the levels and the value of cooperation between them.
Crites praised both the Board and the COA staff, saying “I have a great staff. They come together and say ‘can we meet their need? If not, do we know who can meet the need if we can’t?” And that is part and parcel of building partnerships, mutual help in fulfilling missions that benefit the community as a whole.
