Written by and photos by L. M. Land
Featured photo: Genesee Co Chairman Delrico J. Loyd
On February 25, 2025, over 60 people came to Hasselbring Senior Center for the last time to express their support for Beverly Lewis, executive director of the Hasselbring Non-Profit Corporation, who carries the grant to provide senior services. They need to be out of the building by March 3.
The building is also named Hasselbring and is owned by the City of Flint. A building cannot have a grant to utilize the senior grant money, so the two entities are not dependent on each other.
Loyalty to Lewis is not given idly. Lewis is a dynamic leader for the Hasselbring Senior Center, and the faithfulness of its members is a testament to Lewis’ ability to make a lively and safe place for seniors.
The building itself is not the important part of a program, the people are.
Genesee County Chairman Delrico Loyd called a town hall meeting on February 25 to hear from the people on what they want him to do in the next step to be taken.
“We are here because I am standing for the seniors of Genesee County,” stated Loyd. “We are here today because I want to hear directly from the seniors, all of you.”
Loyd made it clear that ‘I’m not here to beat anybody up” or to “rehash the history” of what has happened. He then clearly explained that the county has no problem in any way with Lewis. Also, the County does not own any property involved in this situation.
However, to continue to support the Hasselbring Nonprofit Corporation, the County has to amend the grants/contract to allow services to continue in a new location.
As all in attendance were in favor, there will be a resolution presented on the evening of February 26, 2025 at the County Commission Meeting. There will be a motion to amend the contract held by Lewis to allow her to operate out of the Kennedy Family Center.
Anything valued over $200 that was purchased by the Hasselbring Nonprofit Corporation will go to the new location.
The mic was passed around the room so seniors could share their thoughts. The remarks were in favor of moving and expressed sorrow about the split loyalties that have been created.
Lewis concluded that: “We need to leave out of here on the power and the presence of the Lord, that I already know he is going to bring in…we do have a dream for a permanent location, but we’re going to wait to see what God does, what he says. I have said from day one this was not a fight I wanted. My seniors wanted me to fight for it; so I fought until the end. I prayed for (God) to guide my mind, my mouth and my actions, and I believe that is what He has done. So, I want to thank all of you who have supported my seniors through this fight and who continue to support us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The event ended with a hymn by Jerome Threlkeld, and a prayer by Loyd.
Tables highlighting county services for seniors were also at the event, offering information related veterans, GCard, senior transportation and more.
On February 26, the Genesee County Board of Commissioners met. At the meeting, they voted unanimously to approve an address change for the Hasselbring Senior Center. The move is expected to allow the nonprofit to continue operating without interruption.
The new Hasselbring location will be at the James E Kennedy Family Life Center, at 1610 W. Pierson Rd.
