From:
To: City Council
Subject: Support the Sebastopol Area Senior Center
Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 10:58:26 AM
Dear Mayor Rich and Council Members:
Sebastopol has graciously provided support for the Senior Center for several years. Due in part to that support, the center has been able to service many more members of our community. In fact, many of our programs this year have exceeded attendance in the first six months of this fiscal year from a whole year's attendance last year.
Your support has helped us to provide vital services to our growing senior population.
Classes, exercise, workshops, support groups, meals, transportation, socialization and so much more are provided at this center.
I understand making cuts to your expenditures is important. But do not cut all of the funds you provide the senior center. There is no other organization in Sebastopol that provides comprehensive and essential services to seniors.
Most other cities in Sonoma County provide senior centers through their Park & Recreation Departments. We provide so much more and at significantly less cost to the city. We also raise every penny we spend and are constantly sending appeals, managing our Legacy Thrift Store, providing fundraising events, and doing everything we can to keep afloat.
This is not the time to reduce our services to seniors. Please consider other avenues for reducing your expenditures. The services we provide would cost so much more, if the Sebastopol Area Senior Center were not able to offer them to the community.
Thank you for your past support and your consideration of our future needs.
Linda Civitello,
Resident and Participant in the exercise, workshops and lunch programs of the Senior Center.