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Your center staff here is always working hard on several things but one biggie is that we are working towards obtaining the National Institute of Senior Centers Accreditation. Groton Senior Center was first accredited in 2004. We want to  keep this important status going.

It is important to be accredited as doing so recognizes that the center meets a high level of standards that are set nationally for senior centers, the center is meeting its mission, assures consumers that we offer quality programs and services and that we are a viable, fundable and qualified provider.

A large benefit of being accredited is that grant providers know we provide quality programs and it is recognized in the grant application process. The process can take six to eighteen months to complete accreditation so please bear with us as we meet all the criteria to benefit your center and you!

For this 2019-2020 year in grants, we received an National Recreation and Park Association grant to train instructors in the Fit & Strong program. This fitness program focuses on those with mobility issues and low fitness levels with the goal of improving their fitness so they are able to function at home and with everyday activities better.

We are also working on a local Pfizer grant, A.A.R.P. grant and a few bank grant applications to help with developing some new programs and supporting some of our older programs.

The process of writing a grant can take two or more months because of the information that is needed to be gathered, putting together realistic goals and objectives and a budget.  Once you have received a grant, aside from implementing the program or service that was written about, there are usually follow up reports and objectives you must meet to sustain the grant.

All that work pays off quite well though. Overall, Mary Jo says “it’s rewarding to be able to start some new programs that benefit people 55+ in our community.”