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Director’s Statement
Marie Beard loves line dancing. Peggy Glidewell plays cards. Don
Washburn plays cards and shoots pool, and Bob Tillis works on
computers. Do you know where all these people enjoy these
activities? The answer: Maury County Senior Center.
In fact, there are hundreds of other seniors who enjoy these
activities and many other activities at the center. The senior
population is the fastest growing segment of our population and one
that a majority of us will all eventually be included.
Your Maury County Senior Center strives to meet all of the needs of
our senior population. We appreciate the past support of businesses
and individuals, and at this time, we request your consideration for
an annual gift.
We actively search for many ways to raise money in order to meet the
needs of our Senior Center. This year, we sent out a fundraiser
letter to 112 members of the community asking for support for the
Center as an annual sponsor. Donors this year will be recognized as
sponsors in our monthly newsletter and on the website.
Many fundraisers are planned each year to raise revenue for our
activities and programs. We included the following plea.
On behalf of the seniors in Maury County, I ask you now to also take
action and give your loan and financial support to a great bunch of
deserving citizens, who find much to do at the Maury County Senior
Center. We do not charge a membership fee, nor do we charge for day
activities or programs at the Senior Center. Night activities such
as dancing, gospel singings, etc. may have a small door charge.
History of the Senior Center
In 1961 – 1962, a senior citizen movement was started in Columbia
when Rev. James Taylor came to the Riverside Methodist Church as a
minister. In 194, the City of Columbia established their Human
Resources Agency and took advantage of State and Federal funds. Mr.
Charles Lea was Director of Aging at the South Central Development
District. Charles Lea assisted Geneva Patrick, Director of the City
of Columbia Human Services to organize and charter the Friendly
Senior Citizens Club. Rev. Don Fredrickson was very active and still
gives glowing support.
In 1974, Anna Bostelman was appointed Director of the Geriatric
Program and Coordinator of Geriatrics at the Columbia Area Mental
Health Center, and for the other seven western counties in the South
Central Development District. It only took two such meetings for
Anna to realize this county must have an organized and chartered
group of senior citizens to be able to obtain their share of the
development district funding that was handed down from the State and
District level.
So the time had come to meet and hopefully organize a county Council
of Senior Citizens, not to discontinue the present clubs, but to
unite them. Anna contacted many individuals to attend an
organizational meeting March 16, 1977 at the mental health center,
and one hundred twenty-six (126) persons registered.
A charter was submitted for approval. Name: Maury County Senior
Citizens, Inc. was adopted.
The next day, the representatives met again and elected a Board of
Directors. The charter was mailed to the state, and Pete Cowsert was
elected Chairman of the Board, and Karen Hull Director of the
Center.
Arrangements were made for us to meet at the Mental Health Center,
the National Guard Armory; then, the County Court, and the City of
Columbia gave generous contributions for a building. The county
provided a site, and this location was decided upon.
To date (2008), we have 22 wheelchair transportation vans which
transport the public to jobs, doctor appointments, grocery store,
pharmacy, hair salons, the Senior Center, vocational training
schools, and other locations as needed. Services provided by the
Senior Center have grown tremendously, as our population is growing.
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Accomplishments
The Center served a total of 1935
unduplicated persons age 60 years and older. Of that total, 202 were
low income, 54 were handicapped, and 194 were minority persons.
The Center had a total of 303 volunteers, with 141 of those
volunteers being age 60 years and older.
MCSC partnered with Maury Regional Hospital and the YMCA to provide
membership for 17 seniors (60 and above) to encourage them to
participate in an exercise program which will decrease weight, blood
pressure and sugar levels (A1C).
We also promote healthy living exercises by partnering with Maury
Regional Hospital and the Columbia Mall with educational programs,
breakfast, Bingo and door prizes for seniors at the mall.
We provide new and used fans and air condition window units for
seniors in Maury County through donations.
Health, educational an inspirational programs: i.e. Martin Luther
King, Black History, Scams, TB, Senior Safety, Insurance tips,
prescription cards, vision and hearing loss, etc. were provided for
our seniors.
Five (5) week computer classes were scheduled for seniors age 10
plus; sponsored by Columbia Power and Water Company.
The Senior Center is co-located with the South Central Human
Resources Agency Meal Program, which provides congregate and
home-delivered meals. Through our nutrition program, we provide over
21,835 meals to 89 seniors at the Senior Center and to the area
homebound.
Services offered and percentages met: Information/Referral – 614%.
Health Promotion – 130%. Outreach – 228%. Friendly visit – 135%.
Telephone Reassurance 258%.
Programs
We provide (for some seniors) the only interaction and socialization
that they have in a day’s time. The Senior Center has numerous
activities for seniors, which are designed to improve their physical
coordination (craft activities), their mental outlook (memory
games), and their social skills (parties & dancing, educational
issues (health and political), and their outlook on life.
Three hundred-three (303) volunteers made weekly contact and
telephone calls to home bound seniors and gave assistance in other
activities.
The Center also provides a central location for agencies and
organizations to utilize the building as a community building.
(Multiple sclerosis, grief support, New Comers, Golden K, Genealogy,
and many more).
Many of the Center’s programs are set up with the help and support
from local groups, either from monetary funds or locations, or
knowledge, or a person’s time. Without volunteers and without funds
from Spring Hill, City of Columbia, United Way, Maury County, and
private donations, the Senior Center could not provide meals,
dental, heating and cooling assistance, exercise and health
programs, and many other support group interactions.
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