Aldergrove Veterans and Seniors Society will run out of money early in 2024.
鈥淲e only have enough money in the fund to get us to Jan. 1,鈥� said Bev Kitteringham, one of the society鈥檚 directors.
And the volunteer board is concerned about the seniors in the community losing not only a place to gather and socialize, but also complete meals the centre provides.
鈥淪ince COVID and the changes that the government has made with its non-profit society grants we can no longer make ends meet,鈥� said president Kay Jewell.
When COVID forced the centre to close, the board added take-out and food delivery so the centre users could obtain cooked meals. The price was $10 but changes in government rules mean the centre could no longer place a specified price, only say the meals were available by donation.
As well the cook has had to retire from the four day a week/four hours per workday position due to family reasons, and the centre is trying to find someone who can fill the job.
There鈥檚 also the worsening economy hitting the centre at 27247 Fraser Hwy.
鈥淲ith the rise in the cost of everything, it has been hard for us to keep up,鈥� Jewell explained.
The executive is grateful for the community and business support the centre has received, such as a professional-grade stove from the Jackmans and donations from firefighters, and there鈥檚 an ongoing garage sale that鈥檚 open to the public in the centre foyer to help bring in extra funds.
But the executive has been trying to find additional sources of revenue or support as previous sources, including gaming grants, have become unreliable. Input and advice have been sought from other community groups, as well, and the executive has spent hours seeking out grants.
The executive never knows from one year to the next how much the grant is and even if the society will receive a gaming grant in a given year. As well, if the centre receives a New Horizons grant from the government, it can only go for capital, not operating expenses, such as groceries for the meal program, utilities, or insurance.
鈥淧rior to COVID we were able to operate with the gaming grant and little fundraisers,鈥� Kitteringham explained.
鈥淎nd we鈥檝e had some local long-term residents come forward and give us donations to help us keep going,鈥� she added.
The centre is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for games, and meals from scratch. Members would deliver cooked meals to shut-ins. The centre would do about 70 meals a week, both eat-in and delivery.
Kitteringham said the centre is 鈥渁 haven鈥� for those who can鈥檛 cook for themselves anymore and can鈥檛 go to seniors centres farther away due to mobility limitations.
If the centre closes 鈥渢hat leaves our membership with no place to go,鈥� Kitteringham commented.
The centre typically attracts 20 to 25 seniors on the days it鈥檚 open, and had about 120 members. Memberships cost $25 annually. Kitteringham noted that 鈥渙ur little farming community is blowing up鈥� in terms of population and housing construction so there will likely be an increase in the seniors鈥� population and a need for amenities such as the centre.
The society would need about $2,000 per month in revenue to be able to have stability. The executive is entirely volunteer, and the only paid position is the part-time cook.
鈥淲e need ongoing donations that we can sort of count on,鈥� Kitteringham explained.
The centre opened in 1980 by a group from the Royal Canadian Legion Aldergrove branch that wanted an alternative to the regular legion. If the society is forced to shut down the centre and dissolve, ownership is turned over to the Aldergrove legion branch.
Kitteringham noted that the building, which the society owns, needs some refurbishing, including insulation to prevent pipes from freezing, roof repairs, and more. As well, there are rodent screens on the exterior foundation that people have kicked off and need to be replaced.
She said members are searching for solutions, but the money is running out quickly.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e determined,鈥� Kitteringham said. 鈥淭hey want that fellowship.鈥�
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