PENNSYLVANIA (WHTM) – On Tuesday in Berks County, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging announced $2 million will be distributed to 45 senior community centers from 26 counties across the commonwealth.
“Senior community centers don't always get the credit that they deserve. They really are the anchors in communities,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich.
In the Midstate, eight senior community centers in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Mifflin, and York counties received some of those funds.
The money will be used for things including updating and modernizing facilities, providing new health and entertainment programs, upgrading technology, and enhancing nutrition services.
“It's not just a place for socialization, though. Serious things happen at senior centers, health and wellness, nutrition, activities that help us get to our rent and property tax and rent rebates. All good things, farmer's market voucher distribution,” said Kavulich.
From another grant, about 400 senior centers throughout the state will be part of the noncompetitive $1 million grant pool for smaller projects. Each center will receive more than $2,500.
“Senior centers don't necessarily always need that big project, but they do need support and doing programming, they do need to update some of their equipment. So new computers, new yoga mats, new supplies,” said Kavulich.
The grant is funded by the General Assembly with proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery.