Resolution coming for senior centers

<span>There is light at the end of the tunnel for area senior centers.</span>

<span>On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed (by a 57-0 vote) Senate Bill 2042, which will allow nearly $4.8 billion in federal funds to be spent by state agencies. Currently, agencies cannot distribute such monies without a state budget agreement in place.</span>

<span>The legislation went to the House on Wednesday, which filed an amendment to the bill. SB 2042 has been referred to as "pass through" legislation as the federal money involved does not require matching state funds.</span>

<span>"The House of Representatives passed an amendment yesterday and there were a couple of programs inadvertently left off of it and they were trying to get every single program," said Paulette Hamlin, executive director of Steeleville-based Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council. "The House found that and voted to pass the amendment. It's not over, but it looks like it will be."</span>

<span>In an email to the Herald Tribune, State Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) said the amended bill will later go back to the Senate for concurrence.</span>

<span>The Senate is due back in session on Aug. 19 at 3 p.m., while the House will return to session on Tuesday and Wednesday with plans to vote on the amended bill once it has gone through the committee process.</span>

<span>Gov. Bruce Rauner's office has said it supports the bill.</span>

<span>"</span><span>The whole process to include the governor's signing should be done and monies sent out in about two weeks is my guess," Costello said.</span>

<span>Hamlin told the Herald Tribune plans are in progress to get the senior sites functioning for at least their home delivery clients until the federal funds are released.</span>

<span>"We're still looking at what we can do in the Chester area," Hamlin said. "In the Monroe County area, some local groups have taken over duties.</span>

<span>"At our Chester site, since we did have a couple of days notice, we did send out some extra meals."</span>

<span>Hamlin said she has received several offers of assistance from various groups.</span>

<span>"We're trying to see how we can use those volunteers to get us back on a bare-bones basis for our home delivery meals," she said.</span>

<span>Hamlin and Chester Senior Center Director Donna Wolters testified at a joint House committee on Wednesday in Springfield regarding the closure of WEEOC senior centers in Chester, Red Bud, Waterloo and Columbia due to the state budget mess.</span>

<span>The centers closed July 31.</span>

<span>"The seniors were notified Thursday of the Friday closure," Wolters said in her testimony. "Those in attendance were speechless and very upset."</span>

<span>Wolters also shared comments from one of her clients, Barb Tiller.</span>

<span>"As one of the ladies said, 'I'm with a walker and tethered to oxygen and can hardly get around,'" Wolters said "'I guess I'll be living off of snack foods.'"</span>

<span>Wolters said the senior center is more than just a noon meal, it is a place to make new friends, enjoy the company of people their own age and a place to share the ups and downs of each others' lives.</span>

<span>"The center is a second family for most," she said. "If someone doesn't show up for lunch and hasn't let someone know they aren't coming, we make calls to their emergency contacts to make sure they are alright."</span>

<span>In her testimony, Hamlin said that in her 30 years of operating senior sites in Illinois, she has never seen such challenging times nor such a gloomy picture for the future.</span>

<span>"Many of the senior sites across the state are not plush with non-grant resources to keep their doors open," she said. "With each and every passing day, we see more and more of them have to make the difficult decision to close their doors.</span>

<span>"Who will be there to assist these seniors with a daily hot delicious meal? Who will check on them daily to see if they are still OK or if they have had a medical emergency overnight? Who will transport them to and from medical appointments? Who will take them grocery shopping?</span>

<span>"Who will be there?"</span>

<span>Hamlin later invited the representatives to visit their local senior centers and talk to the people there about how vital the services are.</span>

<span>"Seeing little ladies with their walkers and canes and hugging each other and holding each others' hands like this is the last time they will see each other was very hard to witness," Wolters said. "Let's hope that's not what will happen."</span>