The commissioners voted to accept a bequest of $159,295 from Mary Walters to the Saint Mary's County Department of Aging and Human Services. Department staff told the board the donor had previously been involved with the Loffler Senior Activity Center and specified the funds be used solely for Department of Aging clients.
Laurie Jennings Harris, director of the Department of Aging and Human Services, said staff plan to develop simple criteria and an application process for disbursements and anticipate stretching the funds across multiple years rather than distributing the total in a single year. Staff described likely uses such as minor home improvements (for example, ramps) and personal-care items; the department proposed a per-client disbursement cap not to exceed $2,500.
A motion to accept the donation and authorize the department to administer the funds passed by voice vote.