Introducing new Senior Center Director

I love it when someone tells me they’ve found the perfect job, with work that all their prior experience prepared them for.
I heard that last week from Stephanie Anderson, Director of the Lawrence County Senior Citizens Center in Lawrenceburg. “I feel like I’m home,” she said. Her background includes owning a personal assistance service and marketing jobs at area assisted living facilities and a senior outpatient therapy service.
Stephanie was hired to replace Sandy Calvert, who retired December 30 after 13 years as Senior Center Director. I appreciate Sandy’s dedication and all the great things the Center did under her guidance.
Things have been pretty quiet at the Center this year, for obvious reasons. Still, there are new and existing programs serving seniors’ needs during the pandemic.
*MyRide - The South Central Tennessee Area Agency on Aging & Disability, which oversees senior centers in our 13-county district, chose to pilot this service in Lawrence County. Stephanie’s first task at the center was overseeing that program, since its coordinator position was open. Kelli Brown Gibbs has since been hired as coordinator.
MyRide uses volunteer drivers (who pass a background check, have insurance and training) to provide rides to appointments and errands for people 60 and over. The cost is $25 a year plus $4 per round-trip ride and $1 each for additional stops, up to three stops per ride.
The program was paused during the pandemic, but is up and running again, and in need of more volunteers. MyRide drivers are now running errands for members who are reluctant to leave their homes.
*Meal Site – The Lawrence County, Loretto, and Summertown Senior Centers all receive lunches Monday-Friday from South Central Human Resources Agency’s meal program. Volunteers deliver “Meals on Wheels” and any senior can pick up a hot lunch at these centers by calling (931-762-1578) 48 hours in advance.
*Telephone Reassurance – Pre-approved, scheduled calls are made to home-bound and socially isolated seniors who live alone. This service provides a regular check on vulnerable people who do not have anyone else to check on them.
*Shopping – Senior center staff will pick up orders placed ahead of time at grocery stores, or can work from a shopping list. Delivery service is free; there is no income requirement and no limit on the number of times this can be done. One-time assistance of $75 for groceries and household supplies is provided to those with incomes of $1800 a month or less.
*Care boxes – Non-perishable items valued at approximately $45 are being provided to seniors once a month. There is no income requirement.
Volunteers, non-perishable food donations, and items for the Center’s indoor yard sale in March are all needed. Call the Senior Center at 762-9259 for more information or to sign up for any of these programs. The friendly voice of Business Office Manager Helen Bowden will answer your call.
Our new Senior Citizens Center Director is also busy making plans for a potential reopening this summer. Lots of updates are in store for the building: a new roof, painting inside and out, new furniture, a big screen TV, a History Wall featuring photos and info from the Center’s 1975 beginning, a display honoring a Senior of the Month, a flagpole, new art and exercise/computer rooms, and renovation of the basement, which will be rented out as an event space.
Activities will be open to age 55+, and include devotions, bingo, bridge, exercise, spa days, movie & popcorn days, knitting/crocheting, bowling, singing, sewing and art classes, health education and wellness classes.
Two trips are being tentatively planned, depending on COVID restrictions. The first, June 17-28, includes the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. The second is a trip to Charleston, South Carolina September 13-18. Day trips will also be offered based on seniors’ suggestions.
If you want to be a part of all this, I don’t blame you! All you have to do is pay annual membership dues of $10, payable March 1, 2021. More information about the Center is available on its new Facebook page (Lawrence County Senior Center) and website, LawrenceCountySeniorCenter.com.
Thanks to Stephanie Anderson and her staff for the help they are and will continue to be to seniors like me. The Center’s volunteer Board of Directors are tireless advocates for the center and its services: Chairman Ryan Durham, Vice-Chair Ronald Fox, Tom Crews, Velta Flippo, Merry Gabel, Fleet Johnson, Patty Odom, Curtis Peters, Bert Spearman, and Hazel Violet.