Anderson County Senior Center receives $5k state grant
Anderson County Office on Aging and Senior Center Director Cherie Phillips, left, and County Mayor Terry Frank, right, accept a presentation check for a $5,000 grant from the Tennessee Commission on Aging & Disability. Also pictured, second from left, are Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, state Rep. John Ragan, TCAD Director James Dunn, and (in back row) Aaron Bradley, director of the East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging & Disability.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, state Rep. John Ragan, Tennessee Commission on Aging & Disability Executive Director James Dunn, and Aaron Bradley, director of the East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging & Disability, visited the Anderson County Senior Center for the presentation.
The $5,000 grant to the senior center was part of $400,000 in competitive grant funds awarded by the Tennessee General Assembly, through TCAD, to 80 senior centers in 59 of Tennessee’s 95 counties.
In applying for the non-recurring grant funds, Anderson County indicated it will use the $5,000 for a number of purposes, including to purchase and install anti-slip wall safety handrail bars throughout the Senior Center, located at 96 Mariner Point Drive; and to purchase activity supplies and equipment, as well as exercise equipment.
“We are enormously appreciative of Lt. Gov. McNally, Rep. Ragan and Rep. Powers for making this funding available to TCAD for senior centers,” Frank said. “And we want to thank TCAD and Director James Dunn for putting this program together and presenting the award at our facility. With this grant, we’ll be able to improve safety in our facility, as well as add opportunities for additional programming.
“Senior centers prove time and time again that they improve the mental and physical well-being of the senior adults in our community,” she said. “We are so thankful for the many partners who help us operate a center, from federal and state partners, to our cities, to various charitable and private organizations, to our Anderson County Board of Commissioners. This program is making a difference.”
“We are so thankful for the award, and truly enjoyed touring [with] Director Dunn and our elected officials around the Senior Center,” Director Cherie Phillips said.
“We will make excellent use of the funds, and look forward to continued partnership with TCAD to improve the lives of our senior adults.”