Elizabethton Senior Center benefits from state funding
Published 12:35 pm Wednesday, November 2, 2022
- Star Photo/Danielle Morin Pictured L to R: Angie Gwaltney, Director of First Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability; Jon Holsclaw, Representative, Tennessee House of Representatives; Leeanne Manning, Assistant Director of Elizabethton Senior Center; Brittany Shell, Director of Elizabethton Senior Center; Rusty Crowe, Senator, Tennessee State Senate, and James Dunn, Executive Director of Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability.
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By Danielle Morin
Elizabethton Star
The Elizabethton Senior Center received $8,000 on Tuesday to assist with building updates and operating expenses.
The Senior Center’s Director Brittany Shell and Assistant Director Leanne Manning were presented the $8,000 check by Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability’s Executive Director James Dunn. Also in attendance were First Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability’s Director Angie Gwaltney, Rep. Jon Holsclaw, and Sen. Rusty Crowe.
Crowe said the center, which provides meals, classes, and other activities for over 400 senior citizens in Carter County, has, “lots of things they need the money for, so this is really good.” Shell said the building, which was completed in 1981, is, “in need of some TLC.” She plans to use half of the funds for building updates and reserve the other half for operating costs. Because it is not funded by the city, the extra income will be beneficial for keeping the center up and running.
Dunn congratulated both Crowe and Holsclaw in a brief speech, saying, “These two members of the general assembly are the ones who helped us to get this money.” He went on to explain the role of the Aging and Disability Commission, saying, “What we try to do is, every community that we go in, celebrate our local folks; the folks who run the AAAD’s, which is the network that pulls in a lot of the resources; and, of course, our elected officials who really make the funding possible.”
With roughly 1.6 million senior citizens in Tennessee, Crowe said centers like this one are an important aspect of the community and should be given the necessary resources to remain in operation. He will be assisting Dunn in awarding similar funds to other senior centers in the Tri-Cities area over the next couple of days.
The Elizabethton Senior Center, located at 428 East G St., is open to anyone over the age of 50. You can call 423-543-4362 or visit their website at elizabethtonseniorcenter.org for more information on the services they offer.
