LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Time is running out for the only independent senior center in Old Louisville.

Volunteers who run the Arthur S. Kling Senior Center said funds are low, and it may have to permanently close in the next few months.

"Most of our clients are at poverty level and below," Cookie Honigberg, treasurer for the Kling Center said. "This gives them at least one hot meal a day."

At 219 West Ormsby Avenue, you can find roughly 30 senior citizens ready for lunch at the center on any given weekday. The space is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It's a free service that has been offered in Old Louisville for any senior over 55 years old since 1978. Honigberg was proud to inherit the center, which was founded by and named after her grandfather, Arthur Kling. 

"I remember even coming down here as a little kid with my parents and seeing how active this place was," Honigberg said.

Arthur S. Kling photo

Arthur S. Kling opened the senior center named after him in 1978.

However, mounting financial burdens may cause the center to shut its doors before the end of 2024.

"We have had to replace the roof and the HVAC," Honigberg said. "We've had plumbing problems since we are responsible for maintenance. That has taken a large part of our investment savings."

Though the space runs on a tight budget, there's never a shortage of activities for the seniors. The center offers activities such as bingo, pool and cornhole tournaments.  

"I was a couch potato before this," Stanley Baker joked.

Baker has gone to the center almost every day for more than a decade to enjoy a hot meal and the company of some good friends.

Stanley Baker and friend playing pool

Volunteers with the Arthur S. Kling Senior Center said it runs on a "shoestring budget", but there's never a shortage of activities for the seniors. 

"Guys can actually get involved and feel safe," Baker said. "Our only arguments are at the pool table." 

He comes over from Shively, and said he's terrified of losing access to this sanctuary. Honigberg and the other center volunteers agreed, and said they're going to fight to keep the lights on for as long as they can.

If anyone would like to donate to the Arthur S. Kling Senior Center, checks can be mailed to 219 West Ormsby Avenue, Louisville, KY 40203. Honigberg said she hopes to have the center's website back up and running to accept digital donations before the end of March.

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