Plainview social center grapples with budget cuts, seeks community support

PLAINVIEW, Neb. — The Plainview Social Center, a vital community hub offering health clinics, nutrition programs, and social activities, is facing potential closure due to recent government budget cuts.

The non-profit center, largely funded by government grants, has been a cornerstone of the community, providing essential services and a gathering place for residents of all ages.

Manager Diane Elwood highlighted the challenges, citing decreased funding and declining attendance. "Our funding has gone down, partly due to a decrease in participation," Elwood explained. "We also suffered attendance from the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a drop in funding."

Despite these hurdles, the Plainview Social Center has rebounded, offering a diverse range of activities including health clinics, educational programs, exercise classes, and social gatherings. Elwood estimates that it costs approximately $96,000 annually to maintain the center's operations.

While financial support is crucial, Elwood emphasized the importance of community involvement. "We really need people," she said. "If people would just come participate, that would bring our numbers up, which in return, would give us more funding back from the government." The center delivers meals Monday through Friday and has meals available for all ages that can be called in for pickups.