Diminishing patronage and rising operational costs have threatened many businesses in inflationary times (movie theaters and small retailers come to mind) —but these factors can affect even our most treasured community nonprofits.
The board of the Senior Center of South Dickens County, familiarly known as the Spur Senior Center, made the tough decision Dec. 23 to slightly increase meal prices and scale back service days. The changes will take place in February 2025.
“Our concern was that if we stayed open five days a week and also continued home delivery, around 25 deliveries, we couldn’t continue to operate,” said board member Darla Thomason.
With participation at the Center shrinking, including several regular patrons going into nursing homes, the Center now serves an average of 10 paying customers per day at lunch; the majority of home delivery patrons are non-paying, she said.
A reduction in the share of regional funding from the South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) is another factor that’s outside local control. If the number of participants in a fixed pool of grant dollars increases, everyone’s share decreases a bit. And when a social organization operates on a shoestring already, it doesn’t take much to threaten its viability. Darlene Young and Cathy Spencer, longtime volunteers at the Spur Senior Center, have represented the Center on that SPAG committee. The Center will withdraw from participation in the program, giving the required 30 days’ notice.
Changes to come.
Thomason outlined the adjustments to the Center’s operations, effective next month.
• The age to qualify for the reduced-price lunch has been lowered to 50.
Thomason said the board hopes to expand its appeal to those who have not yet Days for lunch service will change to Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday only. The board chose those days for two reasons: the Senior Center in Dickens, an alternative choice, is also open Mondays and Fridays; and also to avoid closing on Thursday, which is the day the food truck delivers to the Spur Center.
Home delivery will be provided only on those days as well, and there will be new requirements to qualify for home delivery.
• Price for lunch has been changed to $5 for those 50 and over and $7 for those under 50. For home delivery patrons,
• The Center is free to set its own menus, as it will no longer come under USDA food guidelines. Formerly, staff were required to serve every offered item on everyone’s tray, resulting in food waste; now, patrons may pick and choose.
• Reduction in staff will result from the changes as well, with two kitchen staff losing their jobs.
Looking on the bright side for the future. Thomason said that the board’s near-term goal is to ensure service to the Spur community through December 2026, at which time the forgiveness clause for an $18,000 loan from the Spur Economic Development Corporation for necessary repairs to the roof would take effect. The loan was made to the board in 2021, with a five-year period of continuous operation required.
Scaling back on hours will result in a reduction in utility costs as well, Thomason said.
And perhaps a wider segment of the population will come and experience the benefits of the Center for themselves. Although there might be some stigma to coming and dining with the “old folks,” Spur’s Center is a bright and vibrant place that serves the wider community in many ways, including now hosting the Chamber of Commerce’s vendor markets in addition to Spur’s bridge clubs and other social activities.
As people continue working to an older age, the availability of a quick, affordable takeout option may be appealing. And as always, for those who are retired and seeking a place to volunteer their services, the Center can be a suitable outlet for their talents. Those who currently deliver meals to homebound clients do so on their own time and their own dime.
The Center will have a survey available at the front desk for future menu suggestions.
The Center is located at 210 Burlington Ave, Spur, TX 79370, staffed by director Debbie Pritchett. The phone number is (806) 271-4472.
Dance slated for Feb. 15. One last note: mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 15, when the Center’s volunteers will host a Valentine’s Dance at the Show Barn from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Details are forthcoming.
