The Ekalaka Eagle - Your Community Builder

Carter County Senior Citizen Coordinator Patricia Lovec applied for a mini-grant in July of this year. The mini-grant, used for senior projects, is sponsored by the Governor's Advisory Council and is awarded at the Governor's Conference on Aging.

The purpose of the grant is to "help facilitate up front funding of innovative ideas that will serve senior interest in local communities." Grants are awarded to rural communities with populations of less than 10,000 people.

In the past, these grants have been used for various needs such as training and educational materials, exercise and health equipment, kitchen equipment for meals as well as developing and enhancing senior support services that are otherwise unmet in the local communities. The grant funds are obtained by sponsorships and a silent auction held during the conference.

In the grant application, Lovec explained the need for a freezer at the Carter County Senior Center. "We have a definite frozen food storage problem," she wrote. "Due to our isolation and rural setting it is necessary to stock up on groceries and necessary items."

After learning that the grant was awarded, a 20 cubic feet upright freezer was purchased from Baker Furniture. Understanding that the center was in need, Baker Furniture took an additional $200 off the total price.

"I am extremely grateful we were awarded the grant," Lovec told the Eagle. "And I can't thank Tom [Stevens] at Baker Furniture enough for being so kind and giving us a big discount."

The freezer has already been delivered and is in use at the basement of the center.