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will list some of the things that I learned from visiting
the Senior Center in St. Peters, Missouri.
Mr. Craig Haw is Chairman of the Support
Committee. He graciously showed me around the center. We
went across a very large open recreational dining area to
the work out room. There several people were exercising
on treadmills and stationary bikes. Next door was another
room with a large group of people in it. They were participating
in the arthritis class that is held every Wednesday and
Friday at 10:30a.m. Then Mr. Haw pointed to the craft room
where craft classes are conducted on Monday at 9a.m.
I could smell the aroma of food cooking
from the kitchen. Mr. Haw gave me a menu for the month where
seniors can dine for a very low cost. In addition, the center
has a meals on wheels program. The senior service center
volunteers serve approximately 120 meals daily to seniors
in the community that are in need of their service.
There were seniors in the waiting area that
had appointments to get their taxes prepared at no cost.
Mr. Haw said that they did approximately 80 tax preparations
a day. Their calendar was filled with appointments for this
year but Mr. Haw gave me a phone number of another place
in St. Peters that still had openings. I found this very
helpful. I called and made an appointment for myself.
Terri Fletcher is the Director of the MEAAA
Senior Center in St. Peters. She is on site Monday through
Friday to speak to anyone. She had stepped out for a short
time so I was unable to meet with her on my first visit
but I am looking forward to talking with her on my second
visit.
The center also has a billiards room. Folks
were preparing for a large function for the next day. The
center was expecting approximately 150 seniors to show up
for the function.
I
was given a calendar for March with the events offered at
the Senior Center. There are art classes, bingo, line dancing,
music sing along,trivia, zumba, computer classes and many
other things. Blood pressure checks are even offered. Now
I know where I can get my blood pressure checked close to
my apartment.
I am grateful for Senior Centers and the
volunteers that run them. You might want to visit a center
in your area. There may be services there that you need
or maybe you will want to volunteer. One never knows when
you might meet someone, as I did this morning, to share
your knowledge about the Senior Center that you have visited
or take advantage of all senior centers have to offer yourself.
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