MARTINS FERRY — Despite the future being uncertain amid the current government shutdown, Martins Ferry Senior Center’s Senior Association remains cautiously optimistic.

The center hosted its second annual Halloween bash on Tuesday. Coordinator Melissa Finney said that it’s important to bring the seniors in the community together regularly.

“Socialization is an important part of aging. We know statistics show that people who sit at home and don’t see anyone else all week long, decline in health much more quickly than those who remain active and join in community events,” she said. “It’s our goal at senior services to keep our seniors as healthy and happy in their own homes for as long as it is safely possible.”

Finney said Tuesday’s event saw four senior centers come together to celebrate Halloween by playing games, having lunch and socializing.

The Martins Ferry, Flushing, Bethesda and Lansing senior centers were all in attendance and dressed in their spookiest outfits.

Finney said that if any senior citizen would like to get involved with the center, they can call either Senior Services main office in St. Clairsville at 740-695-41422, or the Senior Center in Martins Ferry at 740-633-3146.

“We are also a resource center, so we can help with HEAP applications, we can help with all sorts of resources, especially in times like these,” she said. “Those resources are becoming more valuable to people, and so we want to reach out to people and help them as much as possible. We value our seniors, and they deserve respect and to be included as a valuable part of the community.”

Belmont County Senior Services are funded through local, state, and federal dollars, which makes the government shutdown hit close to home. Finney said that the shutdown is affecting Senior Services receiving some food distribution through Mid Ohio Food Bank.

“We are starting to see some changes, but we remain hopeful,” she said.

Belmont County Senior Services executive director Lisa Kazmirski added that 80% of the program’s funding comes from two tax levies in place – one for 1 mill and one for 1.5 mills.

“Our budget annually is about $6 million and a large part of that goes to staffing and staff benefits, because we employ 68 people,” Kazmirski said.

She added that her program also runs Meals on Wheels, which serves roughly 1,100 per day.

“So 80% does come from tax levies but some also comes from Title III through the Ohio Department of Aging’s Area Agency on Aging, Region 9,” Kazmirski said.

She admitted she’s nervous with residents not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in November due to the government shutdown.

“I’m worried about some of the folks who get our produce and commodity boxes. I’m hoping that doesn’t stop,” she said. “There are some hiccups with the produce being delivered on time and things like that, but I hope that’s all it is, just a hiccup.”

Kazmirski added that to hopefully alleviate the stresses of not receiving those SNAP benefits she plans to provide residents who receive meals from the Meals on Wheels program shelf stable meals as well as the hot meals they receive.