Heron Area Senior Center launches 'Road to 500' and reports nearly 29,000 meals served in six months

Anne Helwick, representing the Heron Area Senior Center, gave a semiannual update to the commission and announced a "Road to 500" summer membership challenge aimed to reach 500 members by the end of August. Helwick said the center currently has 370 members and said membership funds help support meals, activities and services that maintain seniors' connections to the community.

Helwick provided program statistics: between January and June the center and its affiliated sites served a total of 28,889 meals. She broke the numbers down by site: Huron served 5,067 congregate meals; Wolsey served 1,200 congregate meals; Woonsocket served 2,000 congregate meals; Hitchcock and Highmore smaller site counts were reported. For home‑delivered (Meals on Wheels) services, Highmore delivered 2,016 meals and Huron delivered 16,955 meals during the same six‑month period.

Fundraising and programming details included weekly bingo, which operated from Feb. 19 through June 4 and raised a little under $10,000 (after paying prizes), and a planned rummage sale fundraiser in September. Helwick said the center received a modest state reimbursement increase of $0.09 to $4.23 per meal and that roughly 27% of congregate meals are paid while the remainder rely on donations, grants and city support.

Helwick also reported storm effects on the center: a 47‑hour power outage caused approximately $2,500 in food losses; the center adjusted by using incoming deliveries and resumed meals. She thanked volunteers and noted the center’s role as a social connection and wellness check for older adults.