Stanwood Community and Senior Center avoids cuts

Published 11:23 pm Tuesday, May 13, 2008

STANWOOD — Further cutbacks at the Stanwood Community and Senior Center were postponed after the center received some emergency funding from the city.

The Stanwood City Council voted last week to give the center $15,000, half of what center officials said they needed to finish the year without cutting programs.

“We’re still going to be short, but we’re still going to pursue other grant and fundraising opportunities,” center director Michelle Johnson said.

The center at 7430 276th St. NW provides activities and programs for people of all ages. The center also has 82 low-income apartment units.

The center was left facing a financial crisis last year when United Way decreased its annual grant to $26,000 from $56,000, Johnson said.

To make ends meet, the center has curtailed several programs over the past year, including art programs for teens and wellness and exercise programs for seniors. A pair of full-time positions were reduced to part-time positions, and three workers — including the center’s only cook — were laid off.

Center officials will wait until after a planned fundraiser in June before deciding whether any more programs or positions need to be cut.

In addition to giving the $15,000 to the center, the City Council also voted to establish a city human services committee. The committee will be responsible for working with community organizations that need funding.

“It was very nice to get the $15,000, but it was also nice for the city and the council to support our programs,” Johnson said.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.