Golden Age Center seeks community support
Dear community member,
The Galion Golden Age Center is a place for older adults to meet, socialize, exercise and participate in various activities. Our organization was created in 1953 by the Galion Trouble Clinic. The purpose of our organization is to aid a senior population that were very productive citizens. Now retired — and without the mental stimulation of a workplace — many in their late 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s find themselves with many hours of loneliness and solitude.
This inactivity results in various health issues and mental illnesses. Many are familiar: loneliness, physical inactivity, depression, mental inactivity, dementia, unusual behavior, etc.
Our organization was originally supported by the many businesses in Galion, such as Galion Iron Works, Perfection Steel Body Co., American Steel Grave Vault and Hercules, none of which exist today.
In 2019, for the first time, United Way has declined any support for us. Their reason for this refusal was stated that they, “seek to fund community programs that focus on collective impact framework.”
We, as older adults, do impact the framework of our city. We participate in various activities within the city such as the Pickle Run Festival, Galion’s 3rd Friday, Meals on Wheels, flu shot clinics, etc. We hold various fundraisers open to the public including dinners and bazaars as well as offer handmade quality crafts made by our crafters for sale to the public. We offer space on our second floor utilized by the court system for their Reinvention program as well as a room on our first floor for Douce Dance to hold dance classes for children. Congregate meals are also served to those over the age of 65 at the Golden Age Center each day.
Since we now have insufficient funding to continue our programs and our organization, we would appreciate any financial support you could send. The Golden Age Center is at 301 S. Market St., Galion. The telephone number is 419-468-5152.
Thank you,
Galion Golden Age Center board members
