Center needs donations to keep home delivered and congregate meal programs going.

With rising food and fuel costs and a nearly 10 percent weekly growth in clients needing service, the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is in a crisis and needs our community’s help.

The center provides meals in a dining-room setting for 350 seniors daily, many of whom arrive via public transportation from senior housing, and deliver 350 meals to home-bound seniors for a minimum donation.

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“With cutbacks in county funding, we need help,” Cathy Crone, a trustee of the SCV Senior Foundation. “We suggest a donation of $2 for each meal, but it costs us $8 to produce, not counting staff or fuel. But sometimes, this is the only meal the seniors get.

“We’re doing everything we can to avoid a waiting list,” she continued. “It’s kind of like robbing Peter to pay Paul, but the funding is running out.”

Crone said that many of the clients currently being served are former center volunteers.

“They started this valley and now they need our help.”

Upcoming fundraisers include a golf tournament organized by the Southern Region Association of Realtors on June 9 and the annual Wine Auction on September 27, but Crone said the need is urgent.

Donations of money, time and expertise is being sought by the foundation. To help out, visit the foundation’s website at www.scvseniorfoundation.org or call 259-9444.