The Grayville Senior Center reports it was notified on Friday, November 21st that the Edwards County Senior Center Board voted unanimously to stop providing meals to the Grayville site effective Sunday (Nov. 30th)—a decision Grayville officials say was made without warning and without the topic appearing on the meeting agenda.
According to a post on the City of Grayville Facebook page, Grayville Senior Center representatives says the board attributed the abrupt termination to “substantial losses” allegedly incurred by the Grayville program. Staff requested financial statements to verify the claimed losses, noting that Edwards County supplies only food and paper goods, not salaries, rent, utilities, or other operating costs. Grayville says it has not received any supporting documentation.
Complicating matters further, the cutoff date comes during the Thanksgiving holiday. Both centers will be closed Thursday & Friday (November 27th & 28th), meaning the final meal service from Edwards County will occur today (Wednesday, November 26th).
Grayville officials say they were never informed that any issues existed, despite repeatedly requesting updates about their status. They add that much of the “expense” attributed to them appears tied to the daily delivery of meals from Albion—a task they say volunteers could have handled had they known it was a concern.
Calling the decision “unscrupulous and downright repulsive,” Grayville center leadership emphasized the importance of its meal program, noting that some seniors rely on it as their only daily meal. The center receives no federal or state funding, instead relying on community donations and local fundraisers, while Edwards County’s senior center does receive government funding.
Grayville officials say they will continue serving local seniors and are demanding a forensic audit of Edwards County Senior Center accounts, claiming the losses attributed to Grayville are “inaccurate and unfair.” They also plan to reach out to community and congressional leaders for support and further investigation.
“We will not let our patrons suffer,” the statement read. “The Grayville Senior Center will not go quietly without a fight.”
Center staff say they are working quickly to develop a plan for continued meal service and are asking the public for support as they navigate the sudden change.