Byesville Rotary learns Secrest Center committed to providing services for seniors

Pictured: Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President, Karen St. Clair, WIC Program, and Rich Dair, Speaker.

Reading for next meeting:
October Rotarian, "Up Front," p. 11 and "Focus on fundraising," p. 27.

Courtney Welch, Financial Director, stated that the mission of the Secrest Center is to provide services that will “… enable our seniors to remain in their homes and live as independently as possible.” In 1980, two years after it was established, the Secrest Center became an independent entity. As an independent organization, the Center does not receive Ohio State support from Senior Levy monies.

The Center’s main source of income is their bingo program. Bingo is played 6:30 pm Sunday and Monday. The monies earned form the bingo games support services offered to seniors. The Center earns additional income by providing catering services, offering a Sunday dinner program, renting the hall for private activities, and from donations. The dining hall holds 300 people and can be rented for $200.00 which is reduced to $175 if the renters will clean up after their event.

The Center also offers oversight of the CHORE program which is the only service provided by the Center depending on state funds generated by the Senior Levy. The CHORE program provides lawn mowing and heavy household cleaning to seniors requesting the service.

The Center originally provided services to local residents in the Senecaville area. Since the closing of the Senior Center in the Caldwell area, services have been extended to residents from the Caldwell area. Center staff is currently considering ways to increase income so that they will be able to meet increased demand for services.

Corina Morris, Kitchen Director, is in charge of providing food services at the Center. These services include breakfast and lunches. Three course lunches are $3.00 for people 60 and over and $5.00 for those 50 and younger. Sunday dinners are $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children.

While the Center’s main focus in on services to seniors, all age groups are welcome to at Sunday dinners as well as breakfast and lunch on the weekdays. A member of the Byesville Rotary reported that he had eaten at the Secrest Center. He said, “The staff provides good food at a good price:”

The Secrest Center is located at 201 High Street in Senecaville. The staff can be reached at 740-685-6345.

The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, October 19, 2010, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Larry Miller, 740-439-2767