Solvay Gillen needs help — and that’s an objectively true statement. Among the needs is someone to drive the center’s new van.

The van arrived last month, purchased with grant funds by Catholic Community Service. The Juneau-based nonprofit operates senior centers in 14 communities throughout Southeast Alaska, including Wrangell, providing lunches, home-delivered meals, transportation, social activities and caregiver support or referrals.

The new van seats nine passengers and has a mechanical lift for riders who need help getting in and out of the vehicle.

For the past month, Gillen has been doing all the jobs at the Wrangell Senior Center. Though she is the program director, she has been cooking, delivering meals and providing transportation to seniors.

“For a little while, we were unsure of what the budget would look like, so I volunteered to do everything,” Gillen said. “But it’s pretty overwhelming. After I had been doing all the jobs for a few weeks, I noticed that my interactions with the seniors in the area (have) dropped. And their community interaction has also dropped.”

Gillen is trying to fill two positions: a driver/assistant cook and a main cook. The cook role is part time at $20 an hour for 20 hours a week. The driver/assistant cook role is part time at $17 an hour for 24 hours a week.

“Both positions would require each person to get their (state) food handler card. But we can help facilitate that,” she said. “A background check is required for both positions, and the driver needs to have a clean driving record.”

She said the driver position is fast-paced and includes delivering about 40 meals a day, taking seniors on errands or to medical appointments, and operating the van’s lift for passengers.

“I think these positions would really be ideal for a stay-at-home mom who is alone during the day while the kids are at school,” she said. “It’s difficult to find people who will stay committed to a part-time position. Someone who is retired and would like to cook would also be a good candidate. But it is pretty fast-paced.”

Working for the senior center isn’t the only way to help.

“We will gladly take volunteers,” Gillen said. “If someone wants to come volunteer to help serve food, they will always be welcome.”

To apply, go to ccsak.org/jobs.html or call Gillen at 907-874-2066.