Wednesday evening, amongst the stalls of vendors hawking produce and merchandise at the Green River Farmer’s Market, volunteers from Golden Hour Senior Center hosted their weekly bake sale. The center’s wares are always popular amongst shoppers and within half an hour, a bountiful collection of baked goods was reduced to a few packages of handmade Rice Krispies Treats and a couple of loafs of bread. It wouldn’t take long for them to sell out completely.
Jackie Grubb, director of the center for the past three years, said as she continues to research the history of the center as it celebrates its 50th year, Golden Hour has hosted fundraisers of some sort throughout its years of operation. These days, bake sales and similar fundraisers bring in $8,000-$10,000 for the center each year, needed income as the center continues to deal with reduced funding from both the Sweetwater County Commissioners and other funding sources.
Grubb said the center received a 31% reduction in funding from the county this year, being reduced from $218,150 last year to $150,000 this year, amounting to $68,150 fewer dollars. Young at Heart in Rock Springs received a less severe cut, dropping from $281,337 to $224,800, or $56,537 fewer dollars. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the oldest budget available on the county’s website, the county budgeted $337,211 for under a line item titled “Green River Senior Citizens,” while “Rock Springs Senior Citizens” received $313,566 in that budget.
Grubb said the first year she was the director, the center’s funding was on solid ground, but in subsequent years, has fallen across the board. This includes funding from the Wyoming Senior Services Board, which comes directly from Gov. Mark Gordon’s budget.
“That has taken a hit during this last funding cycle, Grubb said.
She said discussions with the county commissioners have focused on them wanting Green River’s municipal government to step up and provide more funding to the center. Grubb said the city funding for Golden Hour amounts to approximately $20,000 a year.
While those state and county sources of funding diminish, the center is providing more meals and services to Green River’s senior population. Grubb said the center served more than 40,000 meals in 2020, an increase of 10% from the previous year and has had more seniors taking advantage of programs and other services offered by the center as COVID-19 restrictions have eased. This does mean the center receives additional funding from the federal government, but as funding from the county and state specifically funds positions at the center, Grubb is making decisions that she expects will impact the services provided at the center.
She said she has already cut one kitchen position as a result of reduced funding, but has seen more demand for meals from the center since then. An office aide position will open later this summer and Grubb says she has no plans to fill it in a bid to save money.
“It is hard and I know I’m asking a lot from (employees,)” she said.
Grubb is thankful for the staff she does have and admits that while she is unable to provide wages or benefits comparable to private employers or other nonprofits and government jobs, Golden Hour is an enjoyable place to work and many seniors have stepped up to volunteer their time to support the center. Volunteers have formed a history club to research the center and its activities for the upcoming 50th anniversary. Another volunteer creates the activity packets distributed to the home delivered meal recipients.
Grubb said other initiatives still need volunteers such as the home delivered meal program, which Grubb said only takes one hour a week.
“We couldn’t even provide that service without them,” she said.
As the year continues, one thing remains certain for Grubb, seniors are in need of social interaction as they begin to leave their homes since the pandemic first started. Grubb said the increased volume of people coming to the center comes from word-of-mouth referrals and a desire to socialize. To help facilitate this, Grubb said the center is engaging in new activities to entice more participation, saying while there isn’t a senior that will take part in all of the offerings, she’s certain all of the seniors in Green River would at least be interested in something the center hosts.
Grubb said the center has also installed a shuffleboard table and a chess and checkers table to provide more social opportunities for seniors.
“We’re trying to become a place where they’re not alone,” Grubb said.
Grubb said the center will continue to fundraise too, saying whatever the center earns will help keep the programs and staffing levels consistent at Golden Hour.
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