Seniors will now pay $7 for lunch at the centre, up from $6. (Tom Gannam/AP)

The financially strapped senior citizens centre in Saint John has gotten a temporary reprieve.

The centre, which serves hot lunches and holds social events, was scheduled to close for five weeks starting next week to cut costs.

But after consulting with seniors, the board decided instead to increase the price of daily lunches to $7, up from $6.

Still, more fundraising and donations will be needed because the centre is struggling month to month to pay its bills, said board member Larry McPhee.

"We have a determined board who are willing to work very hard to keep the centre open,” he said.

The seniors centre has run a deficit for eight of the past 12 years. Last year, it posted a rare surplus.

McPhee said he’d like to see the centre get more funding and for more seniors to use the centre which is located on the second floor of the City Market.

"For seniors who come here I think it's a home away from home,” he said. “It is also a place where they can get a good meal once a day and still remain independent, which is a good thing."

Ethal Cummings, 93, takes the bus to the seniors' centre five days a week.

"It makes my life complete by coming in here,” said Cummings, after finishing her lunch of salmon and pudding and starting a game of cards with Edna Vail, 86.

“I think it's a wonderful place and I wished people who were turning seniors now would come,” said Vail. “They don't know what they're missing."

Al McColgan, 75, has been going to the centre for a year-and-a-half.

"The meals are great, the prices are reasonable and as I said, it's a great meeting place for seniors in the city," he said.