Editor:
On behalf of the many area seniors who benefit from the Montpelier Senior Activity Center (MSAC), the MSAC staff gratefully thanks all the people in our supporting towns who helped with petitions and outreach, listened, and voted to support our important work at Town Meeting. Voters in Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, and Worcester approved funding requests that totaling $16,000 for FY 2015, and we’ll try again in Plainfield. Our requests were based on the number of active members who are residents in each town, nearly 20% of the 800+ members involved but not including uncounted people who attend events and services free and open to the public. These funding approvals serve to acknowledge the contribution that MSAC makes to quality of life and the value that voters see in MSAC.
Representing 10% of MSAC’s public funding (the rest coming from the City of Montpelier), it plays an important role in our diverse revenue stream, allowing us to offer vital, dynamic, always evolving, accessible, and affordable (or free) programming and services. Financial aid is available. We support the work of neighboring senior centers like Twin Valley Seniors, who provide vital and distinct services to your residents, too. We anticipate future collaborations with TVS as they relocate, we encourage gifts to their renovation campaign, and we believe the more seniors we serve collectively, the better for your communities!
MSAC sponsors nearly fifty weekly activities and classes for healthy living and life-long learning. We host FEAST, a unique public/private/non-profit senior nutrition partnership with Just Basics, Inc. and Good Taste Catering (on-site meals Tuesday/Friday, home delivered meals M-F, and a take-out café on Thursdays). Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for older adults through opportunities that develop physical, mental, cultural, social, and economic well-being in a welcoming, flexible environment. It’s a great time to check out the services your voters have supported, as registration is happening now for Spring classes that start in early April.
To join or get involved, contact the center by calling 223-2518, e-mailing msac@montpelier-vt.org, finding our latest newsletter at www.montpelier-vt.org/msac, or visiting 58 Barre Street.
Thank you again for your support.
Janna Clar, Director
Montpelier Senior Activity Center