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JACKSON – After the abrupt closure of the JW Faison Senior Center in Jackson at the end of June, thousands of dollars from the annual Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) were allocated as “contingency funds” instead of being sent to the shutdown Senior Center. The Northampton Commissioners approved disbursing these funds at their regular meeting here Oct. 7.

According to Northampton County Office of Aging Direct Joslyn Reagor, the contingency money totaled $87,795. The money was split between the county’s Department of Social Services and Office of Aging.

“DSS was able to get $69,161 for Levels I, II, and Adult Day Care, and that takes 15 (people) off the waiting list,” Reagor explained.

The Office of Aging, she continued, will use $11,384 to provide Medical Transportation for 12 seniors and $7,250 to provide General Transportation for at least 50 trips.

Reagor estimated a total of at least 118 citizens would benefit from the disbursement of these HCCBG funds.

“We need to help seniors off of that waiting list,” said Commissioner Geneva Faulkner, who noted these disbursement decisions were made to have the most immediate impact for citizens.

“I’m happy that the senior citizens will have the opportunity to use the services that are so greatly needed,” she continued.

Faulkner said they were also continuing to look for ways to open up a new senior center.

She motioned to approve the contingency money reallocation, and Commissioner Nicole Boone seconded. The vote passed unanimously without further discussion.