Two months after Providence Health &Services announced it would not renew its longtime contract with Vashon Community Care, VCC board members are considering proposals from two organizations potentially interested in filling Providence’s role.

VCC board chair Susan Hanson said the board sent out four requests for proposals to organizations that might consider working with VCC. One of the organizations, Transforming Age, submitted a proposal, and board members are anticipating another from Emerald Communities. Transforming Age, formerly known as Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest, is a nonprofit organization that operates senior facilities in Washington and Minnesota. Emerald Com-munities is also a nonprofit organization and operates senior facilities in Gig Harbor and Redmond.

VCC has operated at a deficit since it opened in its current building. Hanson noted that at one time it needed up to $1 million worth of community support annually and for several years needed $500,000 of community support. Now, she said, that number is down to $300,000. That financial picture is important going forward.

“The challenge is to put together a proposal that serves the needs of the community and is still economically feasible,” she said.

Hanson, who stated she would have preferred receiving three proposals instead of two, said the board will meet with both organizations soon to discuss their respective proposals. The board will then do a considerable amount of vetting and come to the community with a recommendation of why the board has chosen one of the organizations and what kind of community support might be needed to move forward.

The current contract with Providence ends on Aug. 27, but Hanson said officials there have assured her that organization will continue working with VCC beyond that date if necessary. Providence’s Charlene Boyd, who is the managing administrator of VCC, confirmed that the current operating arrangement will remain in place beyond the August date if need be.

“Our primary goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible for the residents and their families,” she said.

Hanson stressed the importance of financial support for the organization, which cares for the island’s elders. But she also noted that one of VCC’s objectives is to become economically stable, without large amounts of annual financial assistance from the community.

“We are charged with working to benefit our residents and our community,” she said. “Our hope is to get an agreement so we are asking for less.”