Senior Center takes in $2,000 grant [The Deming Headlight, N.M.]

Aug. 26--It's not everyday you get a call notifying you that you were awarded funds. It's even more rare for the call to be legitimate.

The timing could not have been better for those at the Bob Beckett Senior Citizens Complex, who are already operating on a tighter budget in light of state cuts. The group received a $2,000 grant from Amerigroup Corp., a "Fortune 500" company which aims to help Americans though publicly-funded programs.

"He just called one day and said they help senior organizations across the U.S.," Barbara Borden, center director, said. "It feels great. It's one of those calls you'd hope you can end your day on."

The funds, she said, will be deposited into the center's general fund, meaning it can be spent to keep existing programs going.

"Any amount of money is a great help towards these programs," she added.

The center is a hub of activity for many locals, most of whom are seniors seeking fun and socializing. On any given day, the center can be seen jumping with excitement, either during a lunch service or during a festive activity, such as dancing or bingo.

According to Amerigroup, the company focuses on serving publicly-funded programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare. In particular, the group aims to help financially-vulnerable Americans, seniors and people living with disabilities.

Founded in 1994, the group originally targeted the health problems of children, mothers and pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid.

Matt Robinson can be reached at [email protected].

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