By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Sue Hess painted a picture of a cheery Christmas, with grandparents being able to collapse onto their couch as their grandchildren head home after a long chaotic day.
But just imagine, she said, if those grandchildren have no other place to go home to.
“We have some grandparents who are not as fortunate as we are,” Hess said, as she looked at her fellow Wood County Committee on Aging Board members Wednesday. “They are not sending them back home to Mom and Dad.”
So this holiday season, the Wood County Senior Center is again helping those grandparents raising grandchildren through the Holiday Outreach Project.
This year, there are 17 families being helped, said Wood County Committee on Aging Executive Director Denise Niese. Some are grandparents and some are great-grandparents raising young children. Some are not receiving any type of support for taking in the children, she said.
Hess, accompanied by Jason Miller “Clarence the Elf,” asked the WCCOA Board members to dig deep into their pockets to help with this year’s project. In exchange for gingerbread cookies, the board members donated a total of $359.
In other business at Wednesday’s meeting, Niese reported WCCOA had received about 1,100 COVID home test kids from the Wood County Health Department right before Thanksgiving. The test kits were made available at the Wood County Senior Center in Bowling Green and at the satellite centers throughout the county.
“They are seeing more activity now, post-Thanksgiving,” Niese said.
More test kits are expected to be made available as the Christmas holiday nears, she said.
Niese also reported that all but four of the senior center staff have been vaccinated against COVID. Those four are tested every two weeks. Other staff have also volunteered to be tested at times, she said.
“We’ve been very pleased with that,” Niese said.
Also at the meeting, Niese talked about the variety of groups using the senior center for gatherings, especially since the move to the new facility in Bowling Green.
“We’ve got a lot of foot traffic,” with the new site being much more accessible for non-profit groups, she said.
Everyone entering the building must wear a mask and have their temperature taken.
“They want to get together in a safe place,” and the senior center can provide that, Niese said.
The building has been used by community service organizations, garden clubs, book clubs, churches, girl scouts and piano recitals.
In other business, the board voted to submit proposals for $65,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, and $361,289 from the Older Americans Act. The proposals must be submitted by the end of the workday on Friday.
Both would be used for home-delivered meals, congregate meals, and technology needed by seniors at home.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the board voted unanimously to acknowledge the hard work of staff during the COVID pandemic. Board President Eric Myers said the staff has gone overboard moving into the new building and working through COVID.
“They have gone way beyond what you might expect from staff,” Myers said.
The $41,500 approved by the board will be divided among the 42 employees at Niese’s discretion.
“All will be receiving some form of acknowledgement,” Myers said.
In other business, the board elected new or returning board members John Calderonello, Sue Hart Douglas, Louis Katzner, Nancy Orel, and Judy Wahrman. The members appointed by the executive board are Janet DeLong and Ben Batey.
Officers for the new year will be President Paul Herringshaw, Vice President Tom Milbrodt, Secretary Nancy Orel, and Treasurer George Stossel.
Myers was thanked for his service as board president.
“It’s been an honor to do this,” Myers said.
