City of Searcy, White River Planning & Development, and White County Aging Program Collaborate to Enhance Services for White County Seniors

The City of Searcy recently completed updates to the Lightle Senior Center, Searcy’s location for the White County Aging Program, using grant funds received in collaboration with White River Planning & Development. The aging facility was in need of updates to better serve the senior community. The following updates have been completed:

New Awning: A new exterior awning has been installed, providing a covered area where seniors can be easily dropped off and safely enter the facility.

Specialized Vehicles: The center now has two new highly specialized vehicles, named "hotshots," which are equipped to transport food while maintaining its temperature, ensuring that meals are delivered hot or cold as needed to seniors.

Generator: The installation of a generator provides essential backup power to the kitchen in the facility which will protect the large quantities of food stored on-site for use in Meals on Wheels in the case of a power outage. It will also allow the Center’s staff to continue preparing meals that between 400 and 500 seniors rely on every day. 

New Flooring & Exterior Doors: Upgrades inside the facility included new flooring in offices and new exterior doors.

New HVAC Units: Two new HVAC units were purchased and installed at the facility.

"These improvements not only enhance our ability to serve our seniors but also create a more comfortable and functional space for everyone who visits,” Lightle Center Director Deborah Dare said. “We are truly grateful for the City of Searcy and White River Planning & Development for their support and commitment to our mission."

Funding for the awning, vehicles, and generator came from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) through their Community Development Block Grant Funds that are received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The facility updates needed exceeded the grant funds received from AEDC so the City of Searcy supported the efforts by paying for the doors and floors. The City is also set to cover expenses involved in improving the parking later this year. 

"We are so thankful for the support that the White County Aging Program and the Lightle Center provides our senior community, and we were excited to collaborate with White River Planning & Development to use primarily grant funds to make these needed updates,” Mayor Mat Faulker said. “This investment reflects our commitment to ensuring that our senior community receives the best possible care and support.”