Surrey Services In Devon Gets Grant For Renovations, More

DEVON, PA — Surrey Services for Seniors in Devon is getting a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, state officials announced Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging said 45 Senior Community Centers from 26 counties across the state will receive one of the Department’s 2023-24 competitive grants totaling $2 million, ensuring older adults are supported in familiar, local places with services to stay healthy and connected to their communities.

Surrey Services for Seniors, Inc. in Devon is getting $15,587 for capital improvement and renovations.

Hundreds of other senior community centers that didn’t compete for the larger grants will get to divide up an additional $1 million that Governor Josh Shapiro secured in his first budget for senior community centers, which serve as social support lifelines in their communities. Senior community centers throughout Pennsylvania welcome thousands of older adults through their doors every day. The competitive grants help senior community centers fund larger-scale projects such as updating and modernizing facilities, providing new health and entertainment programs, upgrading technology, and enhancing nutrition services.

The grant funding is appropriated by the General Assembly with proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery.

"The Department is grateful to Governor Shapiro and his ongoing commitment to supporting older adults in partnership with the General Assembly. With the additional $1 million in non-competitive grant funding, we can reach those senior centers who may not need capital improvements but have equally important initiatives to improve access and programming for older adults," Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich said. "Our Senior Community Centers are a cornerstone in our communities and to the older adults they serve. A senior community center may provide the only interaction that an older adult has some days, and we want to make sure that our centers are welcoming, inclusive, and assets to the local area. The projects funded by both the competitive and non-competitive grants will help the recipients enhance the programs and services already in place as well as create new opportunities to welcome current visitors and attract new consumers."

The additional $1 million that Shapiro secured in his first budget creates a new, permanent non-competitive track to the grant program.

Since the competitive grants normally fund larger scale projects, the non-competitive grants will allow smaller needs to be met and more senior community centers to benefit from the funding. A total of 392 senior community centers were granted a non-competitive award of $2,551 per center.

Both the competitive and non-competitive grants will help senior community centers fund projects based on their needs and the needs expressed by the older adults who attend them. This year, a total of 437 senior community centers received competitive or non-competitive grant funds.

There are 484 Area Agency on Aging-affiliated Senior Community Centers throughout Pennsylvania that provide a variety of offerings, such as nutritious meals, educational opportunities, transportation services, financial and insurance counseling, and exercise programs.