A generous donation of $65,000 to the Alton Multipurpose Senior Center made by the Alton Bank, its employees, and the Combs family is going to go far in expanding the facility, a need that has been identified for some time, according to senior center board member Richard Todd.
Alton Bank President Randall Combs said the donation was made in memory of his father, Donald Combs, an Alton High School graduate who died in 2019, and in honor of his mother Alice Combs, a graduate of Couch School.
"My family has always been in support of things locally," said Randall Combs. The donation is in addition to a previous amount of $35,000 contributed a couple of years ago, bringing the bank's support of the senior center to $90,000 total.
In between, the Alton Bank and Combs family made a donation of $30,000 toward the purchase of a new food pantry facility in Alton, and the total cost of $70,000 was made possible with a matching grant.
Growing the senior center has become necessary, Todd said. The current facility, sandwiched between the post office and a residential area, has become too small to accommodate its programs, and the dining room can only hold about 70 patrons at a time, he said.
As it is, there isn't room for activities like crafts and sewing, for example, and the fitness classes have to be held in the dining room, Todd said. Other programs include hot meals, games and health care clinics, and the facility sometimes needs storage for materials and donations.
During the week, senior center volunteers make phone calls to check on the well-being of about 200 seniors, and during tax season patrons get free help filing their taxes. Additionally, the center’s Meals On Wheels program delivers nutritious, ready-to-heat meals to families in and around the Alton, Rover, Thomasville, Greer and Wilderness areas, with the help of volunteers from several families. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the help of the community and volunteers, “Blessing Boxes” are delivered with fixings for a holiday meal, center officials noted.
Parking in the center's small lot can be problematic, too, Todd added; it is also located on a slope that can be hazardous to elderly patrons, especially during bad winter weather. He said he is also pursuing a community block development grant through Oregon County to meet the center’s goals.
Senior center officials extended a heartfelt thank you to the generosity of the Combs family, the Alton Bank and their employees, as well others in the Alton community who have helped and volunteered so the center can expand its services and do more for the community.
