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Senior Center starts raffle $10,000 grand prize, proceeds will help to fund facility improvements
One of the busiest community gathering spots in Ely is getting a facelift.
The Ely Senior Center, home to numerous events every month, will get a series of improvements if a fundraising effort bears fruit.
Center representatives are selling 250 raffle tickets - at $100 each - to raise funds for the project.
First prize for the raffle is $10,000 with additional prizes of $3,000 and $2,000.
The remaining proceeds will fund a project that should be completed by the fall “We decided to spruce it up,” said Linda Maki, who leads the center’s board of directors. “We can’t do anything major but it’s going to be mostly paint, carpeting, window coverings, and the little kitchenette in the card room. We’re going to get that new.”
Storage space for building renters is also in the works.
Maki said the project was launched in part to respond to the new “Community Hub” facility launched by the Ely Area Community Foundation, in the former Revenue Building in Ely’s business park.
“They have a new building and we have a 100-yearold building,” said Maki.
The Senior Center not only serves as a home for senior citizen bingo and bridge, but an array of other events every month.
Maki said that in February, more than 1,100 people came into the building.
Tenants include the Praise Fellowship Church, Ely Community Health’s Wellness Wednesdays, and the Ely Folk School for its community dance events.
The building has been home to several Braver Angels gatherings and hosts the Ladies of Kaleva, ping pong events, the TOPS weight loss club, estate planning seminars and polka parties put on by the Slovenian Union. The facility is also the election polling place for the city of Ely.
This week, the facility has the Friends of the Library Book Sale, which runs from noon until 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 22.
Organizers are also looking ahead to one of the largest events to take place at the Senior Center - the annual Blueberry Bazaar that is held in conjunction with the Blueberry/ Art Festival.
That will include 24 vendors both Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27 with the fundraising raffle winner to be drawn at the conclusion of the event.
While initially a gathering spot for senior citizens, the Senior Center, center officials say it has become more of a community center and they’ve talked about renaming the facility.
That could come as part of a grand reopening in the fall.
