By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HOOVER — Sunshine Manor, located on Valleydale Road, is offering a place for needy Shelby County residents to spend three days a week.

The adult day healthcare facility is partnering with the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging to offer vouchers to bring disabled Shelby County residents or county residents older than 60 to the center three days a week for $25.

Martin Briggs, the business development manager for Sunshine Manor, said the program includes ClasTran transportation and services. Participants can choose three days to attend from Monday through Friday.

Participants are picked up before 9:30 a.m. and dropped back off at home after 3 p.m. At Sunshine Manor, participants can take part in a variety of activities, including exercising, music, devotions and games, among others. Lunch is also provided.

“We provide a place to meet other people. A lot of these people are at home by themselves, watching TV hour after hour,” Briggs said. “We get them out of the house and bring them into a social environment.”

He said the voucher program is limited to only eight people per week, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Briggs said it would cost $189 per week for a Shelby County resident to take part in the program without the vouchers.

“For one month, you spend $100, and it would normally cost close to $800,” he said.

Anyone who wishes to take advantage of the voucher program must show financial need. To do so, a two-page application is available at Bamasunshine.com by clicking on “Specialized Transportation” at the top of the page.