Seniors to have new venue in central Toledo

The new Warren AME Senior Services Center will be built at Indiana and City Park avenues. The $1.2 million, 11,000-square-foot structure will expand services that currently are offered to the area's senior citizens.

The central city soon may get a comprehensive senior services center.

A planned $1.2 million building at Indiana and City Park avenues would include the J. Frank Troy Senior Center and a senior day-care operation under one roof.

State Rep. Edna Brown (D., Toledo) will deliver a check Monday for $75,000 approved this month by the State Controlling Board.

"I think it will be a tremendous asset, particularly for the central city," Ms. Brown said. "It's something that is much needed, and it will give our senior citizens a place to go. I think our senior citizens need a place to mix."

A news conference to announce the state funding is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday on the southeast corner of Indiana and City Park, where the Warren AME Senior Services Center will be built.

Warren AME Church is the driving force behind the new senior center project. The church has long seen the need to provide additional services to seniors, said the Rev. Otis Gordon, senior pastor at Warren AME.

"It will be a hub for senior services. We're bringing it all under one roof," The Rev. Gordon said.

"This center will not only include a senior center, but a senior day center as well to offer to the community services both for seniors for recreational opportunities for them, but also a senior day center where they can come in and people can drop off their seniors and know they are being cared for."

"It's not so much a church project as it is a community project because the entire community benefits," the Rev. Gordon said.

The Warren AME Church Vision

Empowerment Board will oversee the project, which has received a lot of community support.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority previously awarded a $35,000 grant for the project.

The Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio has committed $700,000 in funding for the new center as long as the rest of the needed support is acquired, said Billie Johnson, the agency's executive director.

The ability to move the J. Frank Troy Senior Center to a newer and larger structure will really help serve more of the community and serve it better, Ms. Johnson said. "We'll be able to have services and activities in the facility that we currently could not have in the one small room they are in now."

The center will help the Area Office on Aging with its goal to help seniors stay at home as long as possible, Ms. Johnson said.

The Warren AME Senior Services Center will be about 11,000 square feet, The Rev. Gordon said.

If all the pieces fall into place, the goal is to have the building constructed by this summer, he said.

Warren AME Church continues to seek funding for the new facility and furnishings for the center.

Contact Meghan

Gilbert-Cunningham at:

mcunningham@theblade.com

or 419-724-6134.