Senior Center continues to be a local leader

Kendrick Calfee | Salina Journal | USA Today Network

Saline County’s Senior Services department served 13,000 more people than it did two years ago, and 3,000 more than last year during the same six-month period, according to a report given to the County Commission this week. From January to June of this year, Senior Services provided 57,484 meals to senior citizens. This marks a 31.5% increase from that same period in 2021. At the weekly meeting on Aug. 8, Senior Services Director Rosie Walter gave a quarterly report to the County Commission. With the average population growing older, Senior Services continues to serve more meals for Saline County’s elderly, even as food prices soar.

“With the population increase, it’s hard to keep up with that,” Walter said.

Senior Services supports the most vulnerable populations. Walter said with a growing population of elderly individuals, the Senior Center will continue to be a relevant and necessary service that supports the community. Historically, it has not made the county money but rather serves as a taxpayer-supported service. Her department does what it can to limit costs, but some expenses are unavoidable.

“What we’ve experienced the last couple of years is that the cost of food has risen a lot more quickly than we are able to adjust the county budget,” said Phillip Smith-Hanes, County Administrator.

With rising costs, Walter noted the department has received a significant amount of donations to help offset their expenses, which largely go toward food. Donations from January through June amounted to $252,769.80. Senior Services expenses, accounting for food and other costs from that same period, were $272,575.63.

Commissioners Joe Hay and James Weese shared a similar sentiment of thankfulness Tuesday for the department’s efforts to cut costs while serving the county’s elderly population. From the 57,484 meals served so far this year, 92% were subsidized or reduced cost for seniors. More than just a meal From January to June, the Senior Center also held various events for Saline County’s elderly. They held a volunteer appreciation dinner, sold-out Salina Senior Theatre Project productions, a health fair with 40 vendors, elder abuse awareness month activities, and others.

Upcoming plans for the Senior Center The Senior Center is in the process of writing grants for building projects, including its parking lot, security system and storage building. Their staff will attend the Meals on Wheels American Conference Aug. 15-19 in Phoenix, Arizona and the North Central Flint Hills Area on Aging Sunflower Fair in September. Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering government and education.

You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett. com or on Twitter (now known as “X”) @calfee_kc.