The Golden Circle Senior Center was leveled by the February 29, 2012, tornadoes which swept through Harrisburg, Illinois.
Through subsequent receipt of a construction grant and insurance money, the Center has raised $800,000 - most of the way to their $1M goal to rebuild a permanet center serving 150-250 people each day.
Still, $1 million doesn't leave much room for amenities.
With the funds Architecture for Humanity has raised from private donations since the disaster, we will be issuing a grant to the Architecture for Humanity Chicago Chapter to work with residents of Golden Circle and provide services that would not otherwise be afforded through funds the Center has raised for construction.
On August 11, representatives of the Chicago chapter will conduct design charrettes with members of the Golden Circle community and identify specifically how to maximize use of the funding available through Architecture for Humanity.
Through the intense, informative collaboration of the charrette, the Chapter can isolate what would most benefit the senior center, and take the necessary steps to outline how to make it possible. Springfield architect and Harrisburg native George Cain has agreed to apply his expertise toward executing the project, along with the Chapter.
We're anxious to see this initiative take shape as Golden Circle begins to rebuild, and will endeavor to collect more funding to grow the size of the grant. The larger the award, the more we can accomplish.
Image of damaged Harrisburg residence by Bill Gnech, Apple Group
