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Do the right thing — save the Quincy Senior Center
Our community has done much to invest in our youth. We have recently passed a school levy that will ensure our students receive the educational resources they need for a well-rounded education. Our city is making a significant investment in its parks, with upgrades to playground equipment used primarily by youngsters.
We have all sorts of groups, clubs, sports and other activities for our youngsters to participate in.
That is all well and good, but when it comes to our senior citizens, we provide few resources to enhance their quality of life. And the main resource in town, the Quincy Senior Center, is now in financial peril.
For years, the Senior Center has managed to exist on a budget of money from the City of Quincy, membership dues, building rentals, and donations from members both living and posthumously.
That money is starting to run out and, if current spending and income patterns hold, the senior center will be in the red by January.
A simple answer would be to have the senior center cut back its spending. But those who are familiar with the center know that it is pretty much a bare-bones operation now and relies on just a few part-time employees and many other unpaid volunteers for its existence.
What about generating more revenue? The center has already doubled its annual membership dues from $10 to $20 and has increased the prices of its meals (those prices have barely kept up with the rising food costs, however). The center also can be rented for private and public events and parties, but interest is limited because there is no liquor license to serve alcoholic beverages in the facility.
The real answer is that if our community wants to have an active and vibrant senior center, then it needs to support the center financially. That means seeing that our city council approves an increase in the money the city gives the center to help with monthly expenses. It means that more people who are eligible for membership join the center. It means that people consider using the center as a place to hold a party or gathering. It also means supporting senior center fund-raising activities, such as an upcoming raffle.
It is hoped that the majority of people in Quincy understand the need for an active senior center in our community.
Here's one more thing to consider. The Quincy Senior Center building was donated by Bud Johnson in 1973 to the city with the stipulation that it remains a senior center. If there is no longer a senior center in the building, then ownership will transfer back to his family. If that ever happens the cost of starting up a new senior center will likely be much more expensive then maintaining the one we have.
Let's do the right thing and keep our senior center going.
