Friends of Westfield Senior Center sets goal for fundraising effort

William K. Tatro, pictured here, vice president of the Friends of the Westfield Senior Center group, said the organization is launching a series of fundraising events to raise money to furnish the city's new Senior Center.

WESTFIELD – They are starting out small, $1 at a time, but the ultimate goal of the Friends of the Westfield Senior Center is to raise $500,000 toward furnishing of a new facility.

William K. Tatro

The group, about 100 strong, will launch what will become a series of fundraising events next week, members William K. Tatro and Susan M. Szenda said this week.

The group has accepted responsibility of raising funding needed to outfit a new Senior Center the city plans to build within the next two years. Construction of a new center is estimated at $6 million. Property on Noble Street, owned by the Westfield Housing Authority, has been selected as the site for the new center.

The first event is “Dining To Donate” to be held Wednesday at the Applebee’s Restaurant at the Westfield Shops on East Main Street. It is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. and patrons who present a special event flyer will see 15-percent of their bill donated to the friends group.

The flyer is available at the Council on Aging office at City Hall, St. John’s Senior Center Relocation Site and on the city’s website www.cityofwestfield.org.

“The flyer must be obtained first and presented to the server at Applebee’s,” said Tatro, vice president of the group.

“We are starting our financial campaign small but we intend to also apply for any available grants to help reach our goal,” he said.

Szenda added “the beginning may appear to be small but our support is growing. Yes, it is $1 at a time but every dollar adds to the goal.”

Tatro and Szenda said many events will be scheduled throughout the year and next. Currently, plans are being finalized for a social gathering and dancing at Shaker Farms Country Club in March.

The Senior Center Building Committee has secured the services of Diversified Project Management Inc. of Newton to assist in creation of the new center. The new facility will replace the current center, located at 40 Main St., that opened in 1983.