Shelby Clerk Helps Offset Sequestration Cut at the Senior Center

When Shelby Township Clerk Stanley Grot visited the Shelby Township Senior Center nearly one month ago, a group of dejected residents informed him that the popular Friday "congregate" lunches were cancelled due to the federal sequester.

During the week, the center is able to provide hot meals at the center for four days. But due to the federal cuts, the Friday reduced lunches were discontinued.

Grot stepped forward, and for the last three Fridays, has provided pizza lunches.

On Friday, he said "I am going to do something other than pizza. I am going to surprise (the seniors)."

The seniors received a lunch featuring salad, pasta and cannolis from Palazzo Grande.

"I made a promise, I kept my promise," said Grot, who added that he was working on providing lunches for the next four Fridays. 

The Friday lunches at the center were cut after the Area Agency on Aging 1-B lost over 4 percent of its funding due to the federal sequester, which impacted the nutrition program which includes Meals on Wheels and the congregate meals at the center.

"We had to absorb those cuts," said Jenny Jarvis, director of communications for the Agency on the Aging.

She said the Agency put a "priority" on the Meals on Wheels program for those who are home-bound and "most frail," and reduced the number of congregate meals offered.

Jarvis added that the Agency on the Aging is trying to secure sponsors to resume the program.

Businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring the lunches can contact Andrea Mulheisen with the Agency on Aging at (800) 852-7795.