Gering Senior Center leaders ask council to publicize services, highlight building repair needs

The Gering Senior Center board president, Susan Heitman, briefed the Scottsbluff City Council on the center’s programs, recent building maintenance costs and financial strain and asked the council to help publicize the center and consider storage support.

Heitman said the center, opened in 1978 and leased from the City of Gering, serves seniors aged 55 and older. The center receives monthly support of $1,000 from Gering, $1,000 from Scottsbluff, and $380 from the Office of Area Aging for the nutrition program. The nutrition program serves 10 to 25 home-delivery clients and 20 to 25 in-house diners each day, Heitman said.

Board members said maintenance costs this year included plumbing repairs of about $9,000 for failing PVC under-slab piping, and two new fire doors to meet code at a cost of $9,972. Carpet replacement in the game room was donated, and an air-conditioner and furnaces were replaced with partial funding from Kinorama. Heitman said those expenses have largely depleted the center’s treasury and that the board would appreciate assistance getting the word out about the center’s services and having a storage shed to hold nutrition supplies.

Council acknowledged the center’s work and the need to raise awareness of the center’s programs. No formal council funding request or action was made at the meeting.