There is a sense of uncertainty at the Lemoore Senior Center. Outside funding is gone and the center's savings account is almost empty.
The center's Noel Derouin said, "We've been running in the red...we've been using our savings like $2,500 to $3,500 a month."
Noel is the secretary of the center's board. He also helps serve lunch and he's the building's handyman. At the center, every cent counts and anything Noel can fix on his own saves time and money, "$4 to fix it and it saves us $50 on a service call, it really helps," he added.
The center lost federal funding five years ago. It's the only senior center in the city and the only one without outside funding in Kings County. In eight months, the center's savings account will be dry. Noel says that could close the doors.
Senior Citizen Ken Dudley said, "It's hard to think about it not being here or something like it."
Senior Citizen Rita Revious added, "I'm sure the board is doing the best they can, we need help...we just need help."
The city is trying to help. Mayor William Siegel says he wants the center to stay open. He says council members are doing research to find a solution.
Mayor Siegel said, "We need to get them right back on track...it's been in operation for over 20 years and they haven't always been losing money."
If the center runs out of money and can't pay rent, Noel says the city will be forced to take it over. Something he doesn't want to happen.
It costs the center $10,000 a month to operate. If you would like to help, you can send a check to the Lemoore Senior Center at 789 S. Lemoore Avenue in Lemoore.
TXT 24
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