Walk around the Osceola square during the noon hour and you’ll find one of the busiest places is the Osceola Senior Center.
The senior center relies solely upon donations to keep its business going, and that was one of the reasons why representatives from the senior center were in attendance at a Feb. 3 Osceola City Council meeting.
Historically
Annually, the city council has budgeted a $3,000 donation to the senior center.
A few years ago, it was requested from the senior center, based on financial need, for a second $3,000 donation, to a total of $6,000. That was granted at the time.
In addition, water and sewer fees were waived to help with the senior center’s expenses.
However, the council made a request that for any future donation requests, officials from the senior center would come before the council with a report and outline the current financial condition of the senior center.
A financial report was provided at the city council meeting, and a request made for a $3,000 donation.
“To me, if I understand right, this actually, it serves a public purpose,” said Councilman Dr. George Fotiadis. “It’s a facility that is in public use, basically.”
Public service
During the meeting, it was reported the senior center serves approximately 2,000 meals a month and relies solely upon donations. There are between 40 to 60 people who eat at the senior center every day.
The senior center also hand delivers 30-40 meals to people who can’t physically get to the senior center.
There are two renters inside the senior center building — the local food pantry and Area XIV Agency on Aging.
The council unanimously approved the $3,000 donation.
As for the recent donation, it will be used toward the two furnaces inside the senior center building that are between 25 and 30 years old. The intention is to get new furnaces with the local donations, as well as contribute toward matching funds.
Representatives from the senior center personally thanked the city council for the donation after the approval was made.
“I think the justification has always been that they serve a public good. That it’s something that’s in the public interest,” Fotiadis said. “There’s always been a nervousness about public money going into, what is potentially, private hands. … This is something that serves a public good. It’s something that it’s in the town’s interest to keep.”