AMHERST — Outdated equipment in the Senior Center kitchen and a lack of space for programs and classes for senior citizens is prompting appeals to town officials to direct some American Rescue Plan Act money for Bangs Community Center upgrades.

“We cannot feed people, we cannot have activities for people, and the building itself needs a lot of work,” Marc Barrette, a regular at the Senior Center, told the Town Council this week.

“The Senior Center is one of those little entities that provides remarkably important services to about 5,500 members of our community,” said Dennis Vandal, a member of the Council on Aging. “In recent years, instead of actually gaining space, we’ve actually wound up losing space during the pandemic, and now we’re looking to get it back because activities are increasing.”

Vandal said renovating the kitchen for the congregate dining program and having more room for exercise programs would signal Amherst’s commitment to providing for its elders.

On the other end of the age spectrum, high school student Talvin Dhingra said developing a Black, Indigenous and people of color youth empowerment center, giving more support to BIPOC students and countering the lack of racial diversity in AP and honors classes is important.

“As youth of Amherst, we can provide unique insight onto certain issues that the center should focus on, specifically education, specifically the school system, in regards to language barriers that are seen at the high school and really through the entire district,” Dhingra said.

Such a cultural center would be appealing for children, especially those who depend on the Jones Library, said Lauren Mills of Longmeadow Drive. “We need to make a youth space as a priority for the remainder of the ARPA funds,” Mills said.

The focus on senior citizens and youth were among direct appeals for the remaining $4.9 million in ARPA money as town officials begin the process of putting together a plan for distributing it.

Both councilors and Town Manager Paul Bockelman have suggested offering community grants to Amherst nonprofits and struggling businesses and possibly establishing an advisory committee that would have a role in deciding what’s funded. Councilors also expressed sentiment for saving some money for roads and sidewalks, while also increasing affordable housing and preserving affordability.

But no one disputed that senior citizens should be prioritized.

“Seniors were some of the hardest hit individuals from COVID, in outcomes and in loneliness, in some sense,” said At-Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke. “Money spent on a senior center seems directly in line with what ARPA money is supposed to be doing.”

District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam said the next ARPA disbursement should be about being fair and balanced, and should address the neglected, including senior citizens. “Many seniors, particularly people who live alone, have had a very quiet and lonely couple of years, so senior centers are extremely important,” Pam said.

“The Senior Center is very important because it serves such a wide range of folks in the community,” said District 4 Councilor Pamela Rooney.

“I very definitely would like to see us make an improvement for our Senior Center, because we’re not going to be able to build a new senior center any time in the near future, and we need to invest in reclaiming our Senior Center for our aging population and help them bring them back into the community they were estranged from during COVID,” said Council President Lynn Griesemer. “That’s also true for our youth.”

District 5 Councilor Shalini Bahl-Milne said the best way to empower youth is for them to lead the initiative to get a space dedicated for them ready.

At Large Councilor Ellisha Walker agreed with using ARPA funds to support youth. “They are experiencing several mental health crises, and I think we definitely have to invest in an empowerment center or some type of services that can be directly distributed to the youth,” Walker said.

The well-being of individuals and Black-owned businesses is critical, said District 2 Councilor Pat DeAngelis.

“It seems to me we have to spend time in this round really looking at how do we help individuals as well as businesses — I think that’s critically important around housing, health issues, etc., etc.,” DeAngelis said.

During public comment, Hwei-Ling Greeney, founder and executive director of Amherst Community Connections, said she is disappointed that her organization, which assists homeless individuals and others, wasn’t chosen to participate in the most recent community development grant distribution, when double the amount was available.

“I urge you to consider appropriating some of the ARPA funds for Amherst Community Connections and other nonprofit organizations that have applied during the double CDBG cycle,” Greeney said.

Margaret Sawyer, a board member for Amherst Media, said support should be provided to help lift voices of community members. “Amherst Media is a vital part of our town’s ongoing work to have a strong, transparent government,” Sawyer said.

The Black Business Association of Amherst Area continued its advocacy, too.

“I am not in support of using some of that money for road repair,” said Pat Ononibaku, president of the organization. “I think most of the money should go to benefit our residents, our businesses, not only Black-owned businesses, but other businesses that have been struggling.”

Vira Cage of Longmeadow Drive said support is needed for businesses that have been left behind.

“We really need to focus on the existing businesses and organizations that have been in our community, to lift them up,” Cage said.

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