Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Seniors get more than meals at senior center

A lot goes on at the Gurdon Senior Adult Center each day, according to center director Royce Ann Barbaree, who was the speaker at the Gurdon Rotary Clubs meeting on Thursday, Feb. 22.

Barbaree said providing meals is one of the things for which the center is known the most. Lunch is served each day Monday through Friday at the center for a donation of $1.50 for those ages 60 and over. She stressed the point that the money was strictly a donation, and there is assistance for those who cannot afford to pay.

If someone for whatever reason is not able to donate the $1.50, they are still more than welcome to come eat with us everyday, she said.

Seniors do not have to be able to come to the center to eat in order to receive the meals prepared at the center. Barbaree said volunteers make home deliveries five days a week with hot meals, and on Friday, two frozen meals are delivered which can be easily heated up on Saturday and Sunday.

Hot meals are delivered to Curtis once each week with six frozen meals being taken in at the same time to provide for the remainder of the week, she said.

There is also help for those who wish to come to the center but do not have their own transportation. Barbaree said a van goes around Gurdon each day and to the Curtis and Smithton communities on Tuesdays and Thursdays to bring people in to the center. The vans also make stops at the grocery store, banks, pharmacies and other locations the seniors may need to go for errands.

We stop and allow them to do these things that they would not be able to do otherwise.

Barbaree said that besides getting a nutritious meal, seniors often come to the center for socialization. She mentioned a group that comes in almost every morning to drink coffee, play dominoes or cards and eat popcorn. Sometimes they stay for lunch, and sometimes they do not.

Another part of the centers socialization is are the parties thrown for various holidays. Barbaree said the biggest party of the year is held at Christmas, but parties are also held for Easter, Valentines and various others. During the annual Valentines Day party, the center crowns a new king and queen. The 2007 Easter party is coming up on Good Friday and will feature Easter basket and Easter bonnet competitions.

These people do the best job decorating the baskets and bonnets, she said.

Barbaree said the community supports the senior center in many ways. Area businesses often make donations to assist the center in its mission.