Senior center reopened and needs your help
Pictured left to right: Art Morin, John Moss, "Idaho Pappy" (photo by Rose Shababy)
Staff at the Bonners Ferry Senior Hospitality Center are happy to be open again after a long year of shuttered doors. However, they are now looking for community support so they can continue to serve area seniors.
Director Barbara Kovacs has been managing finances for the center for 27 years, but funds are “starting to dwindle,” however, and despite her attempts to be frugal with funds, the center still has financial worries.
Kovacs said that donations are far and few between. The number of seniors showing up hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic numbers, but once they do, they expect they will be serving around 400 to 450 meals per month between onsite and home delivery. They ask for $4 donations for the meal but sometimes average less than $1 per meal in a given day.
“If we received the $4 per meal, we’d be okay,” she said.
They get some supplemental funds from the Area Agency on Aging and occasional donations and fundraisers but need help from the community so they can continue to keep their doors open.
The center is back to normal hours, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., serving up a hot lunch and providing a much-needed social outlet. Kovacs said one regular told her “it’s nice to be home again.”
Several area seniors, Art Morin, John Moss and a behatted gentleman who insisted on going by “Idaho Pappy,” agreed. They are happy to be back at the center. “If for no other reason so we can shoot pool,” said Morin as the three gathered around a table, talking and laughing while they played a game.
The senior center board asks that people use masks in an effort to keep everyone safe. Kovacs believes a lot of seniors are still worried about going out in public, part of the reason for the center’s slow start since reopening as well as the board’s decision to continue requiring masks. “The board has decided to keep them safe,” she said.
For now, as long as seniors wear a mask they can join regular activities. There are Fit and Fall classes, pool and cards, and a variety of other activities like pedicures some seniors were receiving earlier this week. The hall is available for events as well, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
If you would like more information you can contact Barbara Kovacs at 208-267-5553. Donations can be sent to Senior Hospitality Center, P.O. Box 1639, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.