Dunlap Senior Center adapts to funding cuts, keeps meals and community strong
By Jill Schaben
Harrison County Times-Reporter
The Dunlap Senior Center is proving that even in the face of mounting financial challenges, a small-town commitment to its older residents can keep doors open — and tables full.
For years, the center has relied on subsidy support from Connections Area Agency on Aging to help offset the cost of meals. But like many organizations serving older adults, Connections is now grappling with stagnant federal funding that has not kept pace with rising food costs. At the same time, pandemic-era relief dollars that once helped bridge the gap have run out.
As a result, the Dunlap Senior Center will now receive cost-sharing support for just one meal per week — a significant shift that has forced local leaders to rethink how they operate.
Despite those headwinds, attendance in Dunlap tells a different story. While some area communities have seen participation decline — even leading to closures — Dunlap’s senior center continues to grow.
Representatives from Connections visited Dunlap recently to explain the funding changes and answer questions, acknowledging the difficult position many centers now face.
Even so, local leadership remains focused on solutions.
“This isn’t about luck,” Patty Mumm, president of the Dunlap Senior Center said. “Our senior center has succeeded where others have struggled because of determined, passionate leaders and community members who understand its value. That commitment is what keeps us moving forward.”
At a meeting this week, the center charted a path ahead: daily meals will continue, with only modest price increases on select days to help offset costs.
A key part of that plan includes a partnership with the Dunlap Dairy Sweet, a local eatery that has become integral to sustaining meal service. Two days each week, meals will be prepared and provided directly by Dairy Sweet, helping the center maintain consistency while managing costs.
Mumm said the decision reflects a deeper mission beyond just providing food.
“We know the meals matter, but so does the time spent together,” she said. “The social connection people find here is just as important as what’s on their plate. And when you combine that with Jan Roberts’ ability to consistently serve up delicious, home-cooked meals — along with the support we continue to receive from the Dairy Sweet — it’s something people truly look forward to.”
The center’s resilience is also reflected in recent improvements to its facility. A newly installed ADA-compliant push-button front door has made the building more accessible, while repairs to a long-standing sloping floor were completed with grant support from the Dean J. King Foundation. Additional upgrades to the countertop area are planned.
The center also received funds from the Harrison County Community Foundation to replace their sanitizing dishwasher unit.
For Mumm and others, the center’s continued growth — even in uncertain times — is a sign that its role in the community remains essential.
“We’re not just serving meals,” she said. “We’re creating a place where people feel welcome, connected and supported. That’s worth fighting for.”
As funding challenges persist, Dunlap’s senior center is leaning on that sense of purpose — and the strength of its community — to ensure it continues serving residents for years to come.
