The sign outside the Wrangell Senior Center, located at 105 Church Street.
As the debates over the state budget and Governor Mike Dunleavy's vetoes continue, many Alaskans are left to worry about how they will be affected. In a Facebook post on July 22, Mayor Steve Prysunka said that the state is looking at a total of $749 million in cuts from the state budget, the largest portion being about $444 million in line item vetoes. Among the 182 line items reduced or eliminated by the Governor, according to an article in the Anchorage Daily News, was the elimination of the state's senior benefits program and a $7.5 million cut to public assistance payments to elderly and disabled Alaskans, as well as cuts to Medicaid.
Leeann Martin, with the Wrangell Senior Center, said that the cuts definitely have a local impact. She could not give specific numbers during the interview, but she said that the cuts definitely hurt the center's ability to feed people. The senior center helps feed Wrangell's elderly residents, but they will offer a meal to just about anyone regardless of age. Several people around town have recognized the strain that the budget cuts put on senior citizens, and have begun to put together a new food voucher program to help the senior center
"Definitely we got cut in the food department, so the voucher program is going to help make up for the loss there, and it's going to help the seniors who got their personal income that they were getting from the state, it'll help make up that also," Martin said.
Josh and Clarissa Young, of J&W's Fast Food, are two of the people working to organize support for the senior center. They both stated, repeatedly, that this is not something they are doing to promote their restaurant. They are trying to help simply because they are in a position where they can. They added that supporting the senior center is also something that is on the minds of many Wrangellites. Josh said that a Facebook post he made on the subject of helping local seniors affected by the budget cuts received 1,600 views in about 24 hours, on top of 29 comments and 11 shares.
"Frankly, I think it's better for the town to know we're taking care of our own," Josh said. "We're all going to be there one day."
The voucher program the Youngs are trying to create, which will begin on August 1, will provide Wrangell residents the opportunity to support the senior center while out buying a meal. Customers can purchase something off of a $5 "senior menu" they are putting together when they purchase a meal. Making this $5 purchase will get the customer a 10 percent discount on their purchase, and will create a food voucher. When enough vouchers are collected, the Youngs will then prepare a large meal and take it to the senior center.
"I honestly think that the community can fill that void far better than any state agency or appropriated fund can do, because we're more connected," Josh said.
J&W's is not the only business involved in this new support program for the senior center. Sierra Reil-Berry, with Twisted Root Market, said that they will also make a "senior box" where customers can put items for the senior center, which they can purchase at a discounted rate. She also added that people can also just make a straight monetary donation. This senior box will also be ready for donations on August 1, she said.
Martin said that other local businesses have expressed interest in putting together support programs, but added that individual community members can help as well. Volunteers are always needed, and so is money. She also said that seniors are in need of everyday items, too. This includes items like clothes, shampoo, soap, and canned food.
"Christmas time's a good time to donate, so that we can give out little gifts and stuff to the ones that don't have family," Martin said. "So any kind of donation or volunteering is very helpful."
The Wrangell Senior Center can be reached at (907) 874-2066.
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