Two summers ago, the air conditioning broke at the South Street Center. The building at 200 E. South St. is home to the Henry County Senior Citizens organization, which operates the county’s senior meals program and provides other services to seniors.
Despite the lack of air conditioning, the staff continued to prepare the meals for delivery to shut-ins throughout the county, as well as the noon meals and the Tuesday evening dinners.
“Those poor girls went through that hot summer with no air conditioning,” said Pat VanHyfte, treasurer of the Kewanee Senior Citizens.
The Kewanee Senior Citizens is a separate group which owns the building and rents it to the Henry County organization. Early last year, Kewanee Senior Citizens officials sought quotes and hired a contractor to install a new heating and air conditioning system. The system is more reliable and efficient that the one it replaced but it came at a cost — around $86,000.
The senior organization had some cash on hand, but still had to finance $70,605, Mrs. VanHyfte said. Thanks to some donations (including a major one from the State Bank of Toulon, which loaned the money for the heating and A/C system) and regular monthly payments, Kewanee Senior Citizens has managed to pay off much of the loan. But a balance of about $28,500 remains to be paid.
Mrs. Van Hyfte said the Kewanee senior group’s income consists of the $1,000 a month the Henry County group pays for renting the building, and $100 a month from the Kewanee Area United Way for a small office space they use. Kewanee Senior Citizens recently lost some rental income when the Mid-Valley Board of Realtors, which rented office space at the center, disbanded.
The seniors have already received a number of donations. For example, a family recently held a birthday party at the center and asked that instead of bringing gifts, people donate money to the senior organization. Those donations totaled about $700.
There was also a fundraiser earlier this year featuring music from the Glory Days Garage Band which brought in more than $1,000. Mrs. VanHyfte said until the loan for the heating and air conditioning is paid off, donations will be needed. She urged anyone who can do so to help out by mailing or bringing a donation to the South Street Center.
