By Linda Whitmore
Thirty thousand dollars in 30 days – the community did it, and Ray Hunter, president of the Silverton Area Senior Center is ecstatic.
In August, organizers of the new center for seniors were told they had until Sept. 15 to raise $30,000 in order to qualify for a $100,000 grant from the Ford Family Foundation in Roseburg. The grant goes toward construction of the center, now under way on West Main Street near Robert Frost School.
Volunteers sold fudge, raffled a quilt and initiated a letter-writing campaign, and not only was the goal met, it was surpassed.
“The lady that delivers the mail every day brings $5, $10, even thousands – it’s overwhelming,” said Hunter.
The total received at press time was $156,000 and the donations are still coming in.
The largest contributions came from Safeway, Roth’s Family Market and Pacific Gas and Electric. The markets contributed $5,000 each and PGE gave $10,000.
“(Former Mayor) Ken Hector is the primary one responsible for Safeway, Roth’s and PGE,” Hunter said.
The cost of the new senior center is approximately $1.7 million. There was an initial block grant of $1.1 million, which includes stimulus money, he said.
The Ford Family Foundation, a private, non-profit foundation located in Roseburg, makes grants predominantly benefiting communities in rural Oregon. It previously contributed $100,000, and because the local match was met, will give another $100,000. Adding in the locally collected $156,000, “we’re getting close to paying for it.”
There are several more grants in process, too.
Hunter said the city of Silverton will pay the difference between what is raised through grants and local contributions; but as more money comes in, it will go to repay the city.
“I think we will totally pay for it with the grants and donations,” Hunter said.
The $1.7 million construction fund includes outfitting a kitchen but does not cover furnishings – and they hope to buy an automatic electronic defibrulator – so fund-raising efforts continue.
As the hat is passed, construction moves ahead. The first step after the August groundbreaking ceremony was tree removal necessary to widen the street. Soon progress will be seen on the building itself.
“It would be great if we could at least get it enclosed before heavy rain,” Hunter said.
