Liberty Senior Citizens Center Closes

The Liberty Senior Citizens Center has closed.
The last day of operation was Friday, March 31, almost 30 years after it was chartered in 1987.
The Liberty Board of Mayor and Aldermen recently took action to close the center due to concerns of its continued viability. “The center was closed as a result of low attendance of participants who live in the Town of Liberty along with the expense of operation to the Town of Liberty, Patty Ray, Director of the Upper Cumberland Area Agency on Aging and Disability told WJLE
According to a spokesperson in Liberty, the number of participants at the Liberty Center had fallen off over the past year which had an impact on available funding for the center. The numbers didn’t add up to get enough funding to keep the center viable.
“The majority of all senior centers’ funding comes from local governments, fundraisers and grant opportunities. A contract between the AAAD and the Town of Liberty provided a small amount of funding for specific services to be provided at the center,” said Ray
“The funding formula, which determines the amount of dollars designated for the center, has not significantly changed, but the way funds are reimbursed has changed for the purpose of accountability for the dollars spent on the specific services being purchased,” she continued.
“The same funding formula and contract reimbursement methods are used for all participating senior centers across the Upper Cumberland. The AAAD contracts with DeKalb County for senior center services in Smithville and with a free-standing Board for senior center services in Alexandria,” Ray said.
“A variety of programs are offered in senior centers across the Upper Cumberland. The AAAD contracts with the centers for the following services: Education; Health Education; Health Screening; Physical Fitness; Recreation; Resource Information; Telephone Reassurance; and Evidence Based programs,” added Director Ray.
With Liberty having closed the center, participants who took part in activities there may now go to the Alexandria or Smithville Senior Citizens Center.