Generations buys Grand Prairie Events

Generations will purchase the Grand Prairie Events building from Mike and Wanda Jarchow after approving the proposal by a vote of 124-2 on Monday.
“It’s not what we dreamed of, but it’s going to be wonderful for Generations,” said George Bonnema, president of the group formerly known as Rock County Senior Citizens.
“I’m happy. … And I’m happy for Mike. I really appreciate what he put into it. It was a growing business before COVID hit.”
Generations will pay $975,000 for the 11,500-square-foot building that the Jarchows opened in 2016 as a 500-person capacity event center.
While that sounds like a high price tag for a non-profit organization, Bonnema said the deal makes sense.
“… versus building a new building for $4.5 million. … For $975,000, there’s no way we can come close to building a new building like that, with that type of quality in the core area of downtown,” he said.
“Who would have expected building prices to sky-rocket the way they have? The price really made construction unattainable.”
 
Finally, a solution to years-old problems
The Grand Prairie location addresses space and structural concerns of the current Lincoln Street location that Generations members have been working on for nearly two years.
Now they’ll have a commercial kitchen, including a walk-in cooler and freezer, and updated surroundings to accommodate a growing group of noon meal-site diners.
Meal site coordinator Lynette Hoiland will use the existing Grand Prairie Events business office.
The kitchen wall between the kitchen and event space will need a serving window, and the northeast corner of the building will accommodate office space for ACE of Southwest Minnesota.
ACE (formerly RSVP) leases space from Generations and will relocate to office space in the northeast corner of the Grand Prairie building that is currently a bridal room and storage space.
The ACE office will have a private entrance to the east.
Other than the east side modifications, Bonnema said the Grand Prairie Events interior and exterior won’t change.
“We want to keep that elegant appearance that it is now,” he said.
“To me the biggest barrier that we have right now for moving the Generations organization forward is the building that we’re in. There’s nothing welcoming about it. We’ve gotten rid of clutter, but we can’t do anything about eight refrigerators and freezers in the room.”
He said Generations may even use the Grand Prairie Events colors and logo on the sign. “Instead of Grand Prairie Events it might be Generations Events,” he said. “We can at least use the G.”
 
Generations Events will honor Grand Prairie Events commitments
With contractors’ summer schedules already filled, Bonnema said the group won’t seek contractors until later this year, and work won’t begin on the kitchen and ACE office until this winter.
Further, he said Generations will honor Jarchow’s existing commitments (more than a dozen) on the books between now and the end of the year.
The building purchase includes tables, chairs, linens, utensils and everything currently needed for event hosting.
As one of Generations’ commitments to the community, Bonnema said having space for community gatherings is something the group has long wanted but hasn’t had space for.
“It’s sustainability for us, which is necessary,” he said about event rentals. “But also, we are planning to have activities in there during the afternoons or mornings.”
 
Fundraising continues, revenue comes in
In cash and commitments, the group has already raised roughly $500,000 toward a new facility, and it benefited from CARES Act funds targeted for non-profits.
Once Generations moves into the Grand Prairie Events building, it will demolish the Lincoln house and sell the current kitchen/dining space, which Bonnema said he’s already had offers on.
While money is coming, funds are needed immediately to close on the new space this summer.
For Bonnema and Generations members, it’s good to finally have a plan.
“It feels like a milestone after treading water for so long. Now we have something definite, and I think that’s exciting for everyone involved,” he said.
“And I think it’s exciting for the community, because it’s not for us … It’s for the next generations. We’re never going to run out of old people; I keep saying that.”
In addition to Bonnema, Generations board members include Carlene Boll, Marlin Buus, Mary Gehrke, Judy Fenske, Connie Frahm, Roger Henderson, Lynette Hoiland, Betty Mann, Renae Reu, Bruce Thalhuber and Ken Vos.
For information about how to support the project, Bonnema can be reached at 507-227-0682, flowergb@iw.net or by mail,  801 West Warren, Luverne, 56156.
 
 
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Generations kitchen doubles output during pandemic
Despite the COVID setbacks, Generations has served more meals than it has in decades — nearly doubling meal numbers.
In-house diners were numbering in the teens and 20s prior to COVID; now meal production is at nearly 200 per day.
They’re delivered daily to Pipestone, Worthington and Adrian, as well as to Luverne residents. Meals are also delivered to Hardwick, Jasper, Hills and Beaver Creek twice weekly. Frozen meals are offered to supplement hot meals on the off days.
The suggested price per meal is $5, and people with limited resources can call site coordinator Lynette Hoiland at 507-283-9846 for options.
Meals are reserved a day in advance.
The menu is posted weekly in the Star Herald and daily on KQAD AM and on Facebook at “Generations formerly Luverne Senior Citizens.”
Bonnema said there is no word yet on when in-person dining will resume.
“That is a concern from a social perspective,” he said. “They’re really missing that social opportunity of dining in person.
“There have been lots and lots of studies about how people’s health has been affected by isolation. … The food is there, but it’s no fun to eat alone.”