Swampscott Senior Center to receive new van in July

SWAMPSCOTT-The Swampscott Senior Center is expected to take delivery of a new eight passenger van next month.Senior Center Assistant Director Rod Pickard said the the majority of the $48,000 tab for the van is being paid for by a federal grant from the Executive Office of Transportation. He said the state is paying $40,000 towards the cost of the van and the town would pay the balance.Pickard said the seniors are very grateful to the community for its support and help in acquiring the new van.?It is great the town has stepped up and is going to help us pay for this,” he said. “We know how tough things are right now and how tight money is so we are very grateful for the support we receive from the town. We are very fortunate the people of Swampscott are so supportive. The Friends of the Senior Center are also helping raise money for van. It’s wonderful how the community steps up.”Pickard said he expects the senior center to take delivery of the new van in July and it would be used primarily to pick senior citizens up at their homes and transport them to the senior center for lunch and activities.?The social aspect of the senior center is so important for seniors so it’s important we have a way to get them here,” he said. “We also have a 16 to 18 person van we use for trips and when we have to pick up large groups.”Pickard said the new van would replace the small van that has 214,000 miles on it and is scheduled to be taken off the road as of July 1.?We bought the van we are taking off the road from Greater Lynn Senior Services years ago for $1,” he said. “We bought it as a backup but it’s getting too costly to maintain.”