Volunteers at Carruth Day Care Centre are pleading for community help to keep their unique service open in Tauranga.
The centre has operated in the city for the past 30 years, providing regular day care for elderly in the region.
Carruth Day Care Centre is attached to Melrose Lifestyle Care and Village, both owned by the Oceania Group.

Heather Prestidge, volunteer Lois O'Brien, volunteer Gwynfa Lingard and Kath Edmonds playing Rummikub. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Graeme Lindgard is a volunteer at the centre and says the facility provides a crucial service for elderly who do not live in retirement homes and those who care for them full time.
'We are all absolutely shattered. Some caregivers I've spoken to say the two or three days rest they get when their elderly dependents come here keeps them sane.”
Oceania Group chief executive officer Geoff Hipkins says subsidies from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board do not cover basic operating costs and they are left with no choice but to close.
'We are not prepared to run a substandard service which would compromise residents' safety.”
Graeme says it is important the service provided at Carruth continues in Tauranga.
'Our argument is that it's cheaper to keep them in the community rather than putting them in a rest home.”
'The thing that's really concerning is that their care givers will not get a break.”
Graeme says the service could operate elsewhere in Tauranga but needs community help for that to happen.
Anyone able to help can contact Graeme on 576 7699.