LEWISTON — With more than half of the funds already raised, SeniorsPlus launched its $5.5 million capital campaign to construct a building off Mollison Way for its programs.

The Area Agency on Aging for Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties operates programs to help older adults age in their homes. It is outgrowing its current spaces, according to CEO Betsy Sawyer-Manter.

With $1.5 million in federal funds, thanks to U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, a $900,000 grant from Maine Connectivity Authority, funds from Androscoggin and Franklin counties, funds from Lewiston and other corporate and individual donations, the organization has just $2.1 million more to raise to meet its goal, according to Sawyer-Manter.

“We think there’s a very generous community here in our area and we’re hoping that people will step up and help us make our goal,” she said. “I’d like to get this building built debt free, because I want all the services going forward to be, all the money to be used on the services and not have to be paying a mortgage, so the goal is to build it and have it be debt free.”

With an ambitious goal to break ground this spring, the organization will continue to fundraise and reach its goal, even during construction, she said.

Its Meals on Wheels program provides prepared meals to older adults; Its education program helps teach older adults about internet safety, how to use electronic devices, Medicare counseling, financial education and other topics.

Now, volunteers struggle to work in the kitchen to prepare the meals at its current rented location, she said. A wall runs down the middle of the kitchen, making communication difficult, the freezers and coolers require a lot of bending and lifting, and the space is small.

Meals on Wheels serves about 650 clients total and the organization has started to form a waitlist for the program because there is so much demand, she said.

In the new building, the kitchen will be bigger, open and have walk-in freezers and coolers so volunteers can use rolling carts to move food, she said.

Currently, there is only one space for education programs at its headquarters, making it impossible to schedule multiple classes at a time, she said. The new building will have a large education room that can be partitioned so more than one class at a time can be hosted.

Upgraded technology will be one of the biggest additions in the new building, allowing older adults to use the internet, computers and other technology to conduct telehealth appointments, meet with lawyers and anyone they might need to communicate with but cannot do so from home, she said.

Staying connected with people is a big part of aging well at home, she said. The stress caused by isolation can have negative health impacts on older adults, so the organization aims to help facilitate connections, friendships and social interaction.

“What we’re very concerned about is social isolation and a lot of people are certainly very at risk of social isolation, if not, really in the midst of social isolation,” she said. “So all of the things that we do, whether it’s the meals being delivered to the home, the social dining aspect, people coming and attending a class that’s all protective factors against social isolation, which can help people have better health.”

One of the capital campaign’s largest donors, Maine Connectivity Authority, supports organizations providing services to close the digital divide to populations who face large barriers getting connected to the internet or digital devices – older adults being one of those populations, according to Maine Connectivity Authority Digital Equity Manager Jessica Perez.

The organization likes the efforts SeniorsPlus is making to educate older adults about digital matters, she said.

“We’re really excited about the work that SeniorsPlus is doing and we are excited to support them in having services for older adults in Lewiston and beyond,” she said. “And we’re excited that we can collaborate with them on the elements related to digital equity, is what we call it, along with elements to bring older adults into the workforce, to ensure that they can manage their health successfully and to have educational opportunities for their enrichment and beyond.”

The new building will also have a patio for Tai Chi, a space for volunteers to grab coffee and a snack, computers for clients and volunteers to use, a congregate dining room, along with other spaces in the building meant to connect people and provide better storage and organization for its programs, Sawyer-Manter said.

Though nursing homes and assisted living facilities serve an important role, most older adults do not want to live in one of those facilities and having a place where they can socialize, learn and get help can increase their longevity and happiness, she said.

“If we can keep people at home as long as possible, that’s what we want to do,” she said. “As independently as they can be and not everyone is independent, a lot of our Meals on Wheels folks are very disabled, they can’t make a meal for themselves, but they’re happy because they’re home, they’re with their pets.”

Though many operations of its programs will be moved into the new building, its Wilton and Norway satellite offices will stay open. Some operations will still remain at its primary location on Falcon Road in Lewiston – the new building will be constructed adjacent to its primary office. To make a donation visit the Seniors Plus website.