“When I think that there are 19 people out here living on peanut butter and crackers, it breaks my heart,” Vanessa Rogers said.
The Fiscal Court has not finalized the 2012-2013 budget and Rogers said she is uncertain how much will be allotted to the Generations Center.
In the interim, community members are trying to fill in the gaps. At noon Sunday, Winchester First Christian Church will host a soup and salad luncheon, followed by a performance by the Journeymen at 1 p.m. An offering will be collected with all proceeds going to the Generations Center.
The concert and luncheon are free, with food being donated by church members.
“We thought it was time again to do something like that,” Journeymen member Bob Cowen said.
The Journeymen will perform a variety of musical genres, including folk, country and gospel, as well as comedy routines. Band members include Mike Sheffield, David Rogers, Cowen, Miller Gaunce, with accompaniment from Nancy Dunn and Linda Koppelman.
The Generations Center receives an annual federal grant of $46,000, but Woosley said she still depends on local funds to continue senior programs like the meal delivery program and the daily meal served at the center.
“Without additional local funding, we wouldn’t be able to operate,”¿Woosley said.
For the current fiscal year, Woosley said the center received $36,000 from the Fiscal Court and $32,600 from the Winchester Board of Commmissioners. There are currently 50 seniors in the home meal delivery program, at a cost of about $1,125 per week. Each meal is $3.15, but Woosley said when fees to package and deliver the meals are factored in, the price increases to $4.50.
If enough money can be raised to cover the cost of the meals, Woosley said the center would find a way to cover the additional costs. Clients are re-evaluated every six months, and Woosley said for $7,900, the 19 seniors on the waiting list could be admitted to the program for that length of time.
“We all know if they (seniors) stay in their home, they live longer, but they have to eat,” Woosley said.
Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchestersun.com, or follow her on Twitter, @ParsonsRachel.
