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Gardner senior center closes state grant, rolls out tech lending and Lifeline installs, and highlights volunteer growth
Summary
Staff reported the FY state grant closed with equipment purchases shared with Templeton, described a two‑year Verizon contract and Chromebook lending plans, said five Lifeline installs have been completed in Gardner and 15 volunteers trained, and highlighted volunteer and program growth.
At the meeting staff said the center closed its FY state grant after purchasing technology and equipment and described plans to lend Chromebooks, maintain a two‑year cellular service contract, and expand Lifeline installations and volunteer support.
Staff reported spending $69,554.29 from the state grant on equipment, telling the board that about $32,000 of that equipment is for Gardner and the remainder is for Templeton; after purchases the presenter said $15,365.71 remained unspent and “that gets sent back to the state.” Staff said the center made change‑order agreements with the state to permit buying equipment in lieu of some stipends and instructor fees and expects two‑year cellular contracts to sustain instructor stipend funding across senior-center sites.
Staff described a technology rollout: Chromebooks and other devices were reset and enrolled in Google Manager by staff and volunteers; the center intends to start a Chromebook lending program once a lending agreement is approved by the city solicitor. The meeting also included discussion of the center’s Verizon cellular subscription, described as a two‑year government contract obtained using promotional rates available to municipal customers.
On Lifeline and outreach, staff said the center began Lifeline installations in April and, in the month discussed, had completed five new installs in Gardner and recruited 15 volunteers to support the program. Staff emphasized volunteers’ contributions: the presenter said the center recorded nearly 960 volunteers in FY24 who logged about 16,000 hours of service with a conservative estimated value of just over $300,000.
Staff also announced a $5,300 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council through the Gardner Cultural Council to support concerts and cultural programming and listed a schedule of upcoming trips, classes and events intended to boost congregate‑meal attendance and other center services.
Next steps: staff will finalize lending agreements with the city solicitor, continue Lifeline installations, and return a final grant closeout report in the year‑end financial packet.
