By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
The Gallup community stands only months away from the grand opening of its new senior center, and the city recently secured several grants to help fund its upcoming operations.
During the June 9 Gallup City Council meeting, Senior Center Manager Steven Wargo presented four grant awards for council approval and outlined exactly how each one would support the new facility.
First, a federal Title IIIB grant of nearly $34,000 will fund transportation services, helping seniors travel to and from the new center.
Next, the city will utilize federal Title IIIC funds to cover meal programs. A portion of this grant—just over $98,000—will fund meals at the center itself. Additionally, another $48,000 from that same federal account will specifically fund home-delivery meals for seniors who cannot visit the facility in person. The center’s staff deliver fresh meals each weekday and provide seniors with frozen meals for the weekends.
The final state award, a grant of over $30,000 from the Nutritional Service Incentive Program, comes with a specific stipulation: the center must use the money to purchase domestic foods grown right here in New Mexico.
Wargo credited local advocates for securing the money, specifically highlighting the city’s efforts during the 2026 legislative session’s Senior Day. He praised Councilor Linda Garcia, District 1, for bringing Gallup senior citizens to Santa Fe to lobby for the cause.
Furthermore, Wargo thanked Representatives Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, and D. Wonda Johnson, D-Gallup, alongside Senator George Muñoz, D-Gallup, for successfully advocating for the federal funds, which total over $309,000.
Before the council voted, Councilor Sierra Yazzie Asamoa-Tutu, District 2, asked how these funds would sustain the senior center given the recent food inflation hitting the country.
Wargo reassured the council that he does not expect to request more money for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2027.
“I think we’re going to be in good shape as far as the food elements go,” he said. “We’re going to be moving into the new facility, and I’m sure costs will come up, but we’re going to cross every bridge as we come to it.”
Following the discussion, the council unanimously accepted the grants for the senior center.
The new senior center is expected to be completed in October or November.
