By JACCI GRUNUNGER
Executive Director
LARSO

Dear Members, Friends, and Valued Supporters,

It is with a profound sense of urgency and a heavy heart that I reach out to you today. Our beloved Senior Activity Centers, cornerstones of the Los Alamos community for so many years, are facing an unprecedented challenge.

We recently received news of significant funding cuts from federal and state government sources. This jeopardizes our ability to continue offering the full scope of programs and services essential to our older adults’ well-being.

Los Alamos residents are getting older, and the demand for our services is growing, not diminishing. The concept of “aging in place” – allowing our older adults to remain in their homes and communities, surrounded by familiar faces and support – is not just a preference; for many, it is necessary. Our Centers are critical to making that a reality for countless individuals.

Approximately 41 percent of our funding comes from the state and 55 percent from the County. In the past, LARSO has had to provide approximately $70,000 annually from our general fund to cover costs. This year, we have been notified that we may need to cover over $200,000 from donations. The reality of the upcoming cuts means we will make difficult choices if we cannot bridge this financial gap.

Our Call To Action

We are all in this together, and we can all make a difference through simple actions. Here are ways you can help us navigate this challenge and keep our centers vibrant:

• Strengthen Our Membership & Participation:
•  Bring a Friend to Lunch: Let them experience the welcoming atmosphere and delicious food firsthand.
• Get a Friend to Sign Up for the Center: The more people we serve, the lower our program unit costs. Anyone age 60 and older can join the Senior Activity Centers. Ages 55-59 are also eligible for just $20 a year.
•  Support the Centers through Donations:
•  Unrestricted Donations for Operating Costs: Every dollar in flexible funding helps us maintain essential services, engaging activities, and wellness classes.
• Designated donations for Vital Services: Designated donations for meal services, transportation, or Day Out ensure that even when government funding for a specific service runs dry, we can still provide essential help to our older adults.
• The Immediate Impact of Your Generosity:
  • $25 donation provides five nutritious meals for an older adult who might otherwise go without.
  • $50 donation covers the cost of transportation for an older adult to attend crucial medical appointments or access groceries.
  • $100 donation could support a month of engaging activities, combat social isolation, and help support the salaries of staff who provide these services.
• How to Donate:
  • Online at org/donate
  • Mail to 1101 Bathtub Row, Los Alamos NM 87544
  • In person at the Center Front Desk.

Please indicate how you want your money designated—unrestricted funds, congregate meals, home-delivered meals, transportation, or Day Out.

• Ask Friends and Family at LANL to Designate Us: Many Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) employees participate in an employee giving campaign, often including a matching gift program from Triad National Security. If you have friends or family who work at LANL, please ask them to choose LARSO as their designated recipient for employee giving.
• Contribute to our Endowment with the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Another option for making a lasting impact is to donate to our endowment. You can do that by going to org

The Unthinkable Alternative: What Happens Without Your Support

We’ve shared our challenges and our hopes. Still, it’s crucial to be transparent about the real and dire alternative if we do not receive adequate support from our members and the broader Los Alamos community. The funding cuts are not abstract; their consequences will directly impact the lives of our older adults.

If we cannot bridge this financial gap, the Centers you know and rely on will change. The unfortunate reality is that we would be forced to implement painful reductions, leading to:

• Reduced Meal Services: For many of our most vulnerable older adults, a daily home-delivered meal is their only source of nutrition and a vital check-in. Our communal lunches are more than just food; they are a critical source of social connection, combating isolation and fostering community. Cuts would mean fewer days, smaller portions, or even waitlists for our congregate and home delivered meals, diminishing a key element of our members’ daily lives.
• Limited Rides to Appointments: Our transportation service provides critical access to medical care, grocery shopping, and other opportunities for older adults who can no longer drive or have limited mobility. Without support, this service would be severely curtailed, leading to longer wait times, missed appointments, and potentially serious health consequences for those unable to get to their doctors appointments.
• Closing A Portion of a Day or One Day A Week: Imagine hours cut or our doors shut one or more days a week, denying access to all programs, services, and the crucial social interaction here. This would reduce our capacity to serve and disproportionately affect those who rely on the center for daily routine, warmth, and companionship.

These are not hypothetical scenarios but the unavoidable consequences of sustained funding shortfalls. Our mission is to prevent these outcomes and ensure no older adult in Los Alamos County is left behind. Your support is not just about keeping a program running; it’s about preventing a significant decline in the quality of life and safety for our cherished older adult population.

Next steps

Our team is working tirelessly to navigate these new financial realities and ensure we continue providing the high-quality services you expect and deserve. As Executive Director, I actively seek new grant opportunities to diversify our funding streams and secure crucial support. Simultaneously, our talented chefs meticulously review our food operations, identifying ways to reduce waste and seeking lower-cost, high-quality food sources without compromising nutrition or taste. All staff members actively seek sponsors for upcoming events and programs, reaching out to businesses and individuals who share our commitment to supporting Los Alamos’ older adults. Our staff and board of directors are dedicated to responsible stewardship of our current funds and finding innovative solutions to keep our center thriving.

There will be many opportunities to engage with us throughout the upcoming months and learn more about our financial reality.

• We will host a Public Forum in late July. This event will be open to the public. Please stay tuned for more details.
• We will also begin a mid-year giving campaign in July that will run through the end of October.
• We will engage the broader community beyond our membership through press releases and a redesign of the support page on our website to ensure greater budget and funding transparency.
• Finally, you can also stay up to date on Center news by signing up for our weekly e-newsletter.

This is a pivotal moment for us. We are deeply grateful for your continued dedication and belief in our mission. With your help, we can weather this storm and continue to be a beacon of support for our older adults, ensuring they can age in place with the dignity and care they deserve, now and for many years.