Richard Daugherty, executive director of Lehigh Valley Active Life, has asked South Whitehall commissioners to consider allocating funds to the senior community center at 1633 W. Elm St., Allentown.

During the board’s Aug. 17 meeting, Daugherty reported 225 South Whitehall residents participate in programs at LV Active Life.

“We have support from many other townships and municipalities,” Daugherty said.

He noted the organization also conducts several activities at Jordan Lutheran Church, such as yoga and computer classes.

The senior center, open seven days a week, is situated in a 15,000-square-foot building.

Daugherty reported a total attendance of between 75,000-80,000 at the center throughout the year.

The annual budget is $600,000.

Daugherty explained the large, centralized senior center can provide more options than smaller community groups can afford.

“With a wide net, we can have enough critical mass to run programs with a larger population involved,” Daugherty said.

He said fees paid by participants cover only one-third of the costs.

He asked the township for $4,000, slightly more than $15 for each South Whitehall resident using the facility.

“We want to engage people,” Daugherty said. “We have excess capacity and want to use the building as much as possible.”

The board agreed to take the request into consideration during 2017 budget planning in this fall.