There’s been lots of talks about cuts to arts and sports organizations, but many others working in the community are also suffering under the government knife.

One group is the Seniors’ Wellness Society, which operates several programs including Learning in Retirement and the annual Senior’s Symposium, as well being the main sponsor of the new Volunteer Centre.

They also operate the Friendly Visitor program, where 40 volunteers visit lonely and isolated seniors. Up to 60 older adults are looked after under the program, with the quality of life being enhanced substantially by the visits.

Cuts to gaming grants this year puts all of those programs in jeopardy. Society president Sandra Dean said the board is in planning mode, trying to develop a strategy that will give them greater stability over the long term.

“All those programs are potentially threatened, there’s no question about it,” Dean said. “Typically, our government grant has added up to 60 per cent of our funding.”

Dean said the Wellness Society is probably in a little better position than most, having some funds to keep them going for another year. The group did receive a bingo affiliation grant earlier in the year, but only got a quarter of what they asked for.

The grants are usually done on a three-year basis, which was not the case this year. As well, Dean said, there were conditions attached to the funding, with no assurance it would be extended for another year.

“It doesn’t look very good,” Dean said.

The society’s board of directors is making plans, developing a strategy they hope will get them through until some funding starts to come back into the community

If it doesn’t come back, the society’s work will be at risk, Dean said, adding that many community groups are in the same situation. “We’re right in there with most of the other non-profits in the community.”

Non profit organizations like the Wellness Society focus on education, health, religion and relief of poverty. They often are a factor in improving the quality of life in a community, relying heavily on volunteers in order to make the most of the funds they receive, not only from the government, but also through local fundraising and the private sector.

However, turning to the private sector to make up the lost grants is not likely to be an option. Dean said that besides struggling with their own finances during the recession, foundations and other private funders are usually looking to offer support, but expect core funding to come from the government.

Funders also want to see that an organization has some leverage, that they have funding from other sources. For many groups, provincial funding filled that role, so the cuts to government grants threatens private funding as well.

“Taxpayer’s money to take care of people,” said Dean. “Funders want to enhance that and to help organizations grow and develop, but they really see the government as having a key position in this.”

Cutting gaming grants amounts to a double hit for the community, explains Dean. Lotteries, Keno and the like have long been recognized as a voluntary tax, often paid by those on fixed or low income, including seniors.

“They’re losing money when they’re gambling, but the money isn’t going back to supporting them,” said Dean.