Sr. Center seeks minimal levy support for maximum impact

Holmes County has proven time and again that it prioritizes taking care of its own.

This election, the board of the Darb Snyder Holmes County Senior Center is hoping that is true, but the board has taken a cautious approach in asking for only a 0.19 mill levy, which would result in an income of approximately $300,000 a year.

In asking for such a small sum from the constituents of the county, the board has asked for only $7 per $100,000 of property ownership, making what it believes is a minimal amount that could make a monumental impact in helping to take care of the senior citizens of Holmes County.

“We’re not asking for a whole lot, just enough to keep us operational,” said Tabitha Strouse, Senior Center chairperson of the board. “Our seniors are a big part of our community, and we have to take care of the people who need our services. This is a very vulnerable population, and the services we provide are crucial to their well-being. While we aren’t asking for a lot, that amount would be extremely important to allow us to continue to provide the care our seniors need.

“When we sat down as a board, I told the board members we didn’t need to ask for a lot. We just need enough to take the burden off, hire a director and keep our programs operational.”

Those services not only include valuable activities and creating a social gathering place, but it is also the heart of the Meals on Wheels program that provides daily meals for hundreds of seniors throughout the county.

The center spends approximately $146,000 creating meals for area senior citizens in the program, including raw bulk foods, home delivery meal supplies and the purchase of locally grown beef.

It also helps the staff create home-cooked meals, which are sometimes the only solid meals seniors get each day.

Not only are those services provided, but they are also offered free of charge.

“It’s comforting to know that at least they are getting one healthy meal a day,” Strouse said. “Purchasing groceries for seniors on a fixed income in today’s economy is rough.”

Strouse noted that the center is run on donations and grants, and they are working hard to secure any and all grant funding at their disposal.

Strouse, who started her career at the senior center as a meal delivery driver at 17, said she shares the same passion for serving seniors as the rest of the staff and volunteers at the center.

In addition to the meals and companionship provided by the center, it also offers free classes for computers and phones and senior-related services that can challenge seniors to navigate through.

All of these programs are designed to create a better quality of life for the county’s seniors.

The reasoning behind the board’s effort to secure the levy is simple, according to Strouse.

“We simply don’t have any money,” she said. “For the year right now, we are at minus $88,000. That is including our $25,000 grant we have for this year and next year, and that is without having appointed a new director.”

Since the retirement of former director Georgie Cool, Strouse has volunteered her time to serve as an acting director as the board seeks someone new to fill that role.

As she does, the center continues to operate on a shoestring budget, and Strouse said the board is passionate about providing the offerings that Darb Snyder enhanced years ago.

“We hope everyone sees the value in taking care of our seniors,” Strouse said. “That is a real concern, and we work with many shut-ins and people on a fixed income.”

While there are many senior centers, few offer the free meals and programs provided by Holmes County, and Strouse said they aren’t about to put people on a waiting list, especially when providing healthy meals is concerned. She said when a senior calls in for help, they want to be there, no questions asked.

She also said that the senior center is for the seniors and everyone in the county to enjoy and appreciate.

Strouse said that while this levy may not be a huge tax burden on the homeowners of Holmes County, its provision for seniors can make a monumental impact. She added that as of mid-October, donations for the center for 2024 are way down compared to the year prior.

For anyone who feels led to donate to the senior center, they may do so by stopping in any time from 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on weekdays or by sending a check to Darb Snyder Senior Center, 170 Parkview Drive, Millersburg OH 44654. All donations are tax-deductible.