Forgotten city funds help senior center

Corning Senior Center's finances went from red to black in one fell swoop during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Barbara Vandygriff, a member of the center's board of directors, and Senior Center Director Linda Daniels-Lima, presented the City Council with a rundown of the center's 2011 finances, lamenting the fact they ended up more than $2,500 in the red.

The city annually donates funds to the center to help keep it afloat.

"I'm sorry that donation wasn't included in our budget this year," said Mayor Gary Strack. "Maybe as the economy gets better the city will be able to help again."

Moments later, Councilwoman Darlene Dickison quietly leaned over to City Manager Steve Kimbrough and whispered something in his ear.

It appears that Dickison brought it to Kimbrough's attention that there were funds earmarked in the city's 2011-12 budget for the senior center — $2,700, to be exact.

Lima said the senior center board had sent a letter to the city asking for the annual donation, but did not receive a reply.

"We just assumed we weren't getting anything," she said.

Strack asked the senior center board to send another letter requesting the funds, and this time the city would respond with a check.

According to the senior center financial report, the center had $17,972 in income during 2011, and $21,338 in expenses, ending with a deficit of $2,536.

That deficit will be covered by the city's donation, leaving the center about $200 in the black.

The center provides one daily meal, Monday through Friday, to seniors at a suggested cost of $2.75 a meal.

It also provides a safe place for seniors to enjoy games, bingo, music, socializing and parties.

"We hold fundraisers to help make ends meet, and people gives us non-monetary donations on a regular basis," Vandygriff said. "Linda does a great job on bringing in income by renting the center to other people for events."

The center will be holding a Vale tine's Day Party and Luncheon on Feb. 14, including a Chinese auction fundraiser.

In April, one of the center's biggest events is the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet.

"There is a great need for this program," Lima-Daniels said. "For some of the seniors the meal they eat at the center is the only real meal they eat all day."

She noted that the center is sometimes the last place local seniors attend before they become homebound or go into assisted living.

"We have a high attendance which shows the need of the program," she said.