Friends of the 2 Rivers Senior Center win United Way award; center announces farm stand, aid program and summer activities

The Friends of the 2 Rivers Senior Center were honored with the United Way of Manitowoc County’s team volunteer award for their work supporting the senior center, the council heard.

Heather Eigenfeld, the senior center director, detailed multiple programs and initiatives. Beginning tomorrow, the Sullivan Family Farm will set up a stand outside the senior center to provide fresh goods and accept SNAP, WIC and county senior farmers market vouchers. The senior center is partnering with the Two Rivers Hunger Task Force and will distribute Brown Bag grocery lists and bags; the center also plans a hot-dog picnic distribution for families the week before Independence Day.

Eigenfeld said the Friends group is launching a financial aid program to subsidize senior center fees for residents who cannot pay; seniors 50 and older may submit an application to the center and meet with staff to establish eligibility. The Friends group has supported bus-ticket subsidies for day trips, allowing low-cost excursions with seniors paying only museum admission and lunch.

Other items announced include the annual back-to-school carnival (the third annual), which in prior years drew donations of more than $10,000 in supplies and benefited more than 240 children; cork-and-canvas painting nights led by instructor Megan O’Connor; and low-cost day trips subsidized by the Friends group. Eigenfeld said the Friends group has been active for 18 years and cited robust community generosity.

No formal council action was taken on the announcements; the council thanked staff and volunteers for their work.