SENIOR CENTERS SEARCH FOR CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
Facing an increase in operating costs Lake County's local Senior Centers are sharing their struggle to keep their communities fed. The Clearlake Senior Center, Alpine Senior Center and the Middletown Senior Center are examples that found creative solutions to new problems.
According to recent census information from censusreporter.org 32 percent of Lake County residents are over the age of 60 and the average income is just over 30,000 dollars. In order to facilitate aid to those in need Lake County is home to several Senior Centers with locations in Clearlake, Middletown, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Upper Lake and Lucerne. These centers host an array of programs from Tai Chi classes to bingo games but most importantly the Meals On Wheels program that provides hot meals directly to seniors.
Lori Tourville, Middletown Senior Center director for the past 12 years shared some insight on the operations at their facility and how they manage the Meals on Wheels and food pantry programs. Currently the center provides lunch daily at noon and while they charge a $5 fee Tourville noted “No one is ever turned away.” The center designed the payments to be anonymous as to create a welcoming environment for all those attending. They also offer local food pickups and operate a food pantry where those in need can receive groceries free of charge. Tourville said, “We have 25 people coming in daily for groceries.”
She continued explaining the success of the program in meeting the increased need of the community with one setback, the cost of goods. “Our food bill has doubled since 2019” stated Tourville. She shared on average is $2,000 dollars per week. The center receives funding from various sources including the Agency on Aging, Redbud Health District, Grocery Outlet, Church of Shambala and also sales from their thrift store.
They are also a part of the Suburu Share the Love program and often receive donations of “best by” foods, which are foods approaching their expiration, from both Hardester's Market and Grocery Outlet Hidden Valley. Yet it's not just the rising food costs, it's also a rapidly rising minimum wage which Tourville mentioned “Minimum wage increases, but the funding doesn't.” She continued explaining how recent state minimum wage increases have raised their operating costs as they now must pay employees more, an expense which was not originally in their budget. This past year in March Tourville attended the Meals on Wheels Conference in Phoenix Arizona and is using that experience to instill new programs at the center including a pet food program which they hope to begin in March.
The Clearlake Senior Center has been undergoing a kitchen remodel for several weeks and is expected to resume normal operations in April. The facility will also
be hosting their annual Meals on Wheels event in April. In the meantime, they have been operating their Meals on Wheels program from the Masonic Lodge and serving frozen pick-up meals from the Bowers Avenue facility. In addition to the Meals on Wheels program, Director Joyce Overton shared that the center hosts many other programs for seniors and events throughout the year which aids in their fundraising efforts. During the November 30 Judge's Breakfast with special guest Senator Mike McGuire, Overton expressed the senior centers' needs for increased funding stating “It costs about a half a million dollars to run this facility.”
She continued sharing that they had gotten significantly less funding from the Agency on Aging than surrounding senior centers stating, “They are not funding us correctly. There's $200,000 we don't receive but should have, and because of the way they allocate it Lakeport gets most of the funds.” At the meeting McGuire noted the importance of more low-income housing projects for seniors. “I hear you on the Agency on Aging, and I have that as a follow up,” he said. Overton added, “The seniors deserve better than what we are able to provide them.” The Alpine Senior Center in Lucerne also offers lunch on Tuesday through Friday from 11 to 12:30 and is closed on Mondays for maintenance. They work with Redwood Empire Food Bank to provide monthly food pickups every second and fourth Tuesday and they also host an array of other activities including guitar and ukulele classes, Tai Chi, crafts with a local librarian and resources from the Department of Social Services on the last Friday of every month. They are always seeking out volunteers to provide more classes and activities.
Director Delores Farrell shared that upwards of 350 families frequent the food bank which is hosted drive through style and donations from local grocery stores helps keep them fully stocked with room to serve lunch to even more seniors. The center relies on private donations, small grants and sales from their thrift store for funding. Farrell said that she is currently working on applying for more funding through the Agency on Aging. Farrell added, “We have been really blessed with the funds for infrastructure” further explaining how the Lucerne Alpine Seniors Inc. own the building, unlike others who lease property from the city.
Thus, all the repairs and maintenance fall under their responsibility, most recently having to replace the roof, remodel bathrooms, repair an ADA compliant ramp and upgrade to solar power. Farrell said, “This is a very old, beautiful building that was kind of neglected.” The goal is to become a safe space for evacuees in an emergency situation and with some help from the Red Cross we will be able to accomplish that goal. Farrell shared, “The Red Cross has been really good to us in getting us supplies and resources.” The Alpine Senior Center also hosts an array of public meetings and offers a free meeting space for all non-profits which is also available to the public for a small fee.