It's been a New Orleans fixture for almost 30 years, and each month hundreds of senior citizens rely on it for food, recreation, and laughs. But now, those at the Lower Algiers Senior Center say they will close their doors for the final time this Friday after a recent veto by the governor stripped it of some needed funds.

"The whole community is going to be devastated," said Evelyn Gastinelle, Lower Algiers Senior Citizen Center Director. Gastinelle says financially she has no choice but to shut down the facility permanently, and she now blames Governor Bobby Jindal. "I want to ask him to his face, what are you thinking about," she said.

Included in the 258 line items the Governor recently vetoed, was a source of funding for the Lower Algiers Senior Center worth $25,000. Gastinelle fears that as early as next week, seniors will no longer be able to enjoy the facility's free computer access, daily free lunches, and the simple luxury of air conditioning in the summer months. And the tradition of closing centers is one not far removed from New Orleans. Pre- Katrina, there were 18 senior community centers across the city.  After the storm, only ten stayed open. Now, four are being hit hard financially because of Jindal's recent vetoes.

Howard Rodgers, Director of the New Orleans Council on Aging, says the Algiers Center is the only one so far to announce closing its doors. "We are waiting to hear on the other centers to hear what they're going to do." Rodgers says each of the city's centers are funded through the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, but says that is not nearly enough. "That particular budget is about 10 to 15 years old."

According to Rodgers, nine out of the ten centers get additional funding from non governmental organizations, and it's those groups that didn't make the cut for the governor - troubling news for some residents who often frequent the Algiers Senior Center.

"Oh, I was hurt," said Estelle Zanders of Algiers.  "I really hurt I don't want it to close, but if it closes I will have nothing else to do, nowhere to go."

Still, a spokesperson for the governor says help may be on the way.  Michael Diresto, Communications Director for the Division of Administration, says Governor Jindal's Office is working to come up with a solution.  "The Elderly Affairs Office will work with the New Orleans Council on Aging to see that services are provided in the Lower Algiers community," said Diresto."

Meanwhile, seniors at the center say they hope to caravan to Baton Rouge in two weeks to picket in front of the Governor's Office to express their outrage and disappointment in his decision to do away with their funding.