Chino Valley senior citizens will get to eat 20 extra meals at the Senior Citizen Center between now and June 30, 2010, thanks to a federal grant.
Jason Kelly, Parks, Recreation & Senior Services director, said this is possible because the department received a $4,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency through Yavapai County's Emergency Management Division.
He said this money is part of the $56,591 the county received from FEMA under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
"This will let us keep the Senior Citizen Center open all 20 days it was scheduled to be closed around holidays in addition to every Friday. Now, it will only be closed regularly on Fridays," he said.
He added, "We were very thankful to receive this grant."
Kelly said Parks and Rec also has received between $4,000 and $5,000 in donations from area businesses and residents.
The department's staff has been distributing a list of supplies the Senior Citizen Center can use to area businesses. "These donations will help subsidize and enhance the offerings at the center," Kelly said.
The Senior Citizen Center is still offering the Adopt-A-Senior program. Through this program, people can pay $20 to enable a senior citizen to eat for an entire week at the center.
People wanting to donate to this program or to the Senior Citizen Center should send their checks to the Town of Chino Valley, Attn.: Senior Center, P.O. Box 406, Chino Valley, 86323.
Kelly said the Senior Citizen Center also is offering a $2 lunch for seniors on Tuesdays until further notice.
In other Parks and Rec news, Kelly said the Parks Division will be in the town building at 1527 N. Road 1 East by August. Head Start occupied that space until June 1.
"This will give the public improved access to the Parks Division staff in the Recreation Activity Center," he said.
