TRUMBULL COUNTY Senior center requests more funds from board

The center provides day care for adults with Alzheimer's and delivers meals.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- At least $14,000 is needed for the continued operation of a Cortland-based senior-citizen center.
Martha Webb, director of Senior Services Inc., 130 Windsor Drive, told Trumbull County commissioners Monday that if the center doesn't receive the money soon she will have to close.
"We needed the money last month. The money is needed for administration costs. We will get additional state and federal money in July but we need the money now to cover us," she said.
The center provides day care for adults with Alzheimer's disease and delivers meals to about 170 homebound seniors. It is open to all Trumbull County residents. The center has a $170,000 annual budget. Almost all of it comes from state and federal grants, Webb said, but she puts in some of her own money.
Commissioner Michael J. O'Brien said he doesn't know if they can help. "This is the first time any of the 10 senior citizen facilities in Trumbull County has requested our help," O'Brien said.
Expected to decide: Commissioners are expected to make a decision in the next few days.
Webb said Senior Services Inc. needs the extra money because its is new and has not been able to secure as much funding as agencies that have been in existence longer.
"We have been operating for three years and there are grants that we can't apply for because we haven't been established for that long," Webb said.
She noted that the agency has grown fast and the number of clients has increased.
"In January 2000 we served one meal to a homebound person, and by the end of December we had served over 4,000 meals," Webb said. He said 2,200 meals were served from January through March this year. "There is a need for this facility."
State Sen. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-32nd, said he doesn't want to see the center close.
"There are too many people counting on this facility and I don't want those people forgotten," Ryan said. He said he'll work with county and state officials to find out what can be done.
O'Brien said he welcomes Ryan's assistance.