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Glenville Delivers to Seniors

Senior Center Plans to Reopen
Posted on: June 30, 2020 - 3:39pm

Since March, the Town of Glenville provided 358 grocery deliveries to 78 senior resident households during the pandemic-related mandatory closures. Glenville Senior Center Director Vicki Hillis organized the effort, managing a team of volunteers and checking in with seniors throughout the past three months. The program averaged 5 deliveries each business day and included 63 volunteers.

It started when Town Supervisor Christopher Koetzle ordered the Senior Center closed for participants’ safety. Members of the Senior Center were stuck home with no social outlets and a growing fear of the COVID-19 virus. Many worried about entering grocery stores as measures to social distance and disinfect surfaces were not well-documented or yet fully implemented.

Supervisor Koetzle was concerned for the seniors’ well-being from Day 1 of the shutdown and created the Senior Assistance Program on the same day he declared an emergency in the Town of Glenville. Councilwoman Gina Wierzbowski, Deputy Town Supervisor, co-developed the guidelines for delivering the senior residents’ groceries through this program. As one of the more active volunteers in the program, Councilwoman Wierzbowski delivered groceries to 66 households over the past few months. Her understanding of community needs derives from her full-time career where Councilwoman Wierzbowski has worked for Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps (CPHM EMS) as Community Outreach Coordinator and an Emergency Medical Technician. She was also previously the District Manager for Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh.

Although the grocery delivery program ended June 30th, Supervisor Koetzle and Director Hillis have been actively working on a reopening plan for the Senior Center. Center members miss the senior lunches, interest clubs, social get-togethers, sports leagues and daily programming such as Zumba classes.  Several groups took to socializing via Zoom or meeting outside to keep engaged.

Check back as more information will be made available regarding reopening of the Senior Center.