By Staff
Our View
Atmore's seniors will soon receive a much needed new gathering place.
The city of Atmore applied for, and received a federal grant to help build a new senior center behind City Hall.
As reported in our front page story, the seniors have to meet in the city's former National Guard Armory, built in 1949.
While the building's a sturdy structure, it is in need of repair and not adequate to meet the need for services provided to our seniors.
We owe more than we know to Atmore's seniors.
Once, this place was just a small stop along the railroad tracks. Generations of Atmore residents have built it up.
Our seniors today helped establish this town, as Charlotte Purvis said.
They are part of what has been called "The Greatest Generation." Many grew up in The Great Depression, fought and won a world war, and built the world's largest and strongest economy, creating a true world power and leader of nations.
They opened businesses, brought industry here and worked in its factories.
More than 80 lifetimes of experience and wisdom show up at the center almost daily.
The center helps them stay active and healthy. It delivers meals to those who are unable to leave. In short, this small, lightly funded, lightly staffed organization improves the quality of life for many seniors in our community.
As our Mayor and City Council rightly recognized, our seniors and those who serve them deserve better than a leaking roof and run-down kitchen facilities.
The Atmore Advance appreciates the council's efforts to acquire this money. It took nearly two decades of trying, but soon, our seniors will have a place they can be proud to call their own.
We encourage the Escambia County Historical Society and other entities involved with the project to make all efforts to see this new center arrives without further delay.