Senior center seeks county help to replace failing bingo system; fundraising underway

Randy Altman, representing the Seward County Senior Center, reported the Friendship Meals program served more than 29,000 meals in the previous year and described the center’s role providing meals, home deliveries and social connections for seniors in Liberal, Plains and Kismet.

Altman told commissioners the center’s bingo system — its largest weekly activity with 30–50 participants — is failing and cannot be repaired. He gave cost estimates: a replacement bingo console of about $10,000 plus a video solution that ranges from a $5,000 box controller (to run flat-screen TVs) to about $7,000 for a dedicated video board, putting the likely combined cost near $17,000. He said bingo players and volunteers have raised roughly $4,000 toward the purchase.

Altman requested that commissioners consider any available unassigned funds to help complete the replacement. Commissioners responded with appreciation for the center’s services; no formal funding motion was made at the meeting. Altman emphasized the center’s outreach role: for some homebound residents, the meal delivery program provides essential health checks and social contact.