Senior center cuts back in-person meals, ride services to four days a week

On June 1, the Wrangell Senior Center will cut back its in-person meals and ride services after a loss of funding.

Juneau-based Catholic Community Services, the organization that operates the senior center, announced on May 1 that there would no longer be any funding from COVID-19 emergency relief federal programs, making it necessary to reduce operating hours.

“With the White House’s announcement that the Coronavirus public health emergency is officially ending, there is no longer emergency relief money available to support the senior operations,” wrote Brigette Guzy, human resources director for Catholic Community Service, in a statement.

Instead of Monday through Friday, the Wrangell Senior Center will serve lunch Tuesday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m., with an additional shelf-stable meal given out on Friday for people to take home. An extra meal will be distributed at that same time to seniors who get their meals delivered.

According to Solvay Gillen, site manager for Wrangell, meals will only be delivered to seniors who are housebound. Otherwise, seniors are encouraged to go to the center for lunch.

“The food is still available. We just want people to start moving around and seniors to get out of their house,” she said. “We’re still here, just come in and eat with us.”

Rides for seniors for errands, medical appointments and shopping will still be offered through the center, though only Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We’re unable to be open on Mondays until we get more money in the door to be frank,” Guzy said in a phone interview last Thursday. “Staffing is a big expense. We’re having to look at positions at all the sites. Some are being cut and some are being reduced in hours.”

The assistant cook position in Wrangell is one such job being cut. The four-member staff is going from a five-day work week to four days, Gillen said. The current driver will be leaving for another job this summer due to cutbacks, so that position will open up.

During the pandemic, the center delivered more than 70 meals a day throughout town. The center reopened to in-person dining more than a year ago, five days a week, with deliveries on request.

Some of the financial burden on the center is lifted in Wrangell since the borough covers fuel and rent for the building.

Gillen said employees are adapting and making the center fun for seniors.

“We’re going to start doing activities again,” she said. “Starting next month, we’ll have an outing planned for out the road.”

They will also bring back the in-person bingo and other activities at the center.