As Stanfield braces for the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, there’s a cloud hanging over the community center. The senior meal program, a weekly gathering for many local seniors, is facing financial challenges that could disrupt its services.

Funding cuts have put a strain on the program, particularly when it comes to covering the salaries of the two dedicated cooks who whip up those Wednesday meals. While the Community Action Program of East Central Oregon has been a lifeline, their support alone isn’t enough to keep the program afloat.

The community center’s plea to the Stanfield City Council for assistance isn’t a cry for charity; it’s a practical request for help in keeping a valuable community resource running. Sure, there’s some extra funding potentially coming in from other sources like Walmart and the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, but it’s not going to cover all the gaps.

This isn’t just about food on plates; it’s about connections and camaraderie. For many seniors, those lunches are a highlight, a chance to catch up with friends and break out of the routine. Losing this program wouldn’t just mean missing meals; it would mean missing out on vital social interaction.

It’s clear that something needs to be done, and everyone has a role to play. Whether it’s pitching in a few extra dollars at lunchtime or lending a hand with fundraising efforts, there are ways for the whole community to chip in and help out.

And, most of all, the community center’s effort to feed Stanfield seniors shines a spotlight on how people can band together to make a difference. In today’s world that simple concept — local people helping other local people — may seem quaint, but it isn’t.

Instead it is a pillar upon which our community can build on now and in the future.