Senior centers around Franklin County are preparing to dip their toes into the digital and hybrid worlds thanks to $151,500 in grant funding from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

Through the agency’s Hybrid Programming for Councils on Aging grant program, the South County, West County and Bernardston senior centers received state funding to pursue hybrid programming aimed at bringing in new patrons, while also expanding options for those who currently use the center.

“We have not offered any hybrid classes; the only hybrid opportunities we have offered are Board of Oversight meetings, that’s it,” said South County Senior Center Director Jennifer Remillard.

In Bernardston, Director Jennifer Reynolds shared a similar experience, as the center offered an exercise class in the pandemic’s early days, but stopped hosting digital and hybrid programming once the center’s doors reopened.

The South County Senior Center, which included Conway’s Council on Aging in its application, received about $120,000; Bernardston received nearly $24,000; and Shelburne’s Council on Aging, on behalf of Ashfield, Buckland and itself, received $7,500.

Money, the senior center directors said, will go toward purchasing video equipment, such as the Owl Labs cameras now seen at meetings around the county; supplies for senior center activities, including supplies for folks participating in events from home; Zoom licenses; and general programming expenses.

Reynolds said the Bernardston Senior Center will be working with Franklin County’s YMCA to offer access to virtual exercise classes and set up Zoom options for their weekly coffee hours and other events, although she noted the center is “starting small in February to work all the kinks out.”

The grant will also allow the Bernardston Senior Center to hire a part-time staff member to help coordinate digital and hybrid events.

“We’re very lucky to have received this grant, and we’re really looking forward to see what attendance is and if it draws in more participation,” Reynolds said. “It’s providing more digital equity to the region and that’s what the intention of the [Executive Office of Elder Affairs] was.”

At the South County Senior Center, along with Conway, Remillard said they are planning to launch numerous programs, as well as some technology training that would teach patrons how to use Microsoft Office products, how to use their cellphones or tablets and safe internet browsing methods.

“We’re going to probably do some hybrid programming toward the end of February, but starting in March, there will be additional classes available regularly,” Remillard said. “We are interested in feedback from current and potential members as to what hybrid opportunities they would like to see offered.”

In western Franklin County, Senior Center Director Juli Moreno said the grant to the Shelburne Falls facility will go toward technology training and classes for patrons, while also supplying iPads that can be rented out.

“Whoever wants to be able to learn will be able to learn,” Moreno said, adding that informing seniors about how to do telehealth appointments will be an important focus.

The other aspect of the grant, she added, will fund equipment for the Shelburne Falls center’s YouTube page — Bernardston is also exploring a similar plan — which will feature all the hybrid and digital activities they offer, so anyone can watch if they miss the Zoom broadcast. A podcast capturing community events is also in the plans.

“We’re trying to do programming, but also introducing them more toward community involvement, like having a podcast or getting people to post their tours,” Moreno said. “With what we’ve got, I think we can pull it off.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.