by Kirby Lindsay Laney, posted 2 September 2016
Geographically, some of the best resources for Fremont aren’t located here. For instance, our seniors can find great opportunities – for friends, food, fitness, fun and social services – through our community senior center. The name, and location, place it to the east of the Center of the Universe, but the Wallingford Community Senior Center (WCSC,) comfortably nestled in the lower level of the iconic Good Shepherd Center, invites all Fremont seniors.
While it serves as our Senior Center, the most important part of the name of WCSC may be in the ‘Community’ it creates!
Everyone (50 +) Welcome
“This place has been here forever,” joked Rae Levine, WCSC Interim Executive Director. Our senior center, in operation since 1979, serves seniors from all over North East Seattle. Unfortunately, some who may have heard, but never stepped inside WCSC, may recall vague news reports from years ago, of funding troubles. “We’re in a really good position now,” Levine asserted.
Many more people have never heard of WCSC, yet. It’s never too late to check out the wide selection of programs and resources it provides. “Many people find out about us from word-of-mouth,” Levine explained, and everyone is welcome to stop by, say hello, and gather information on the full calendar of activities for seniors. “Everybody who looks at this place is going to find something for themselves,” Levine observed.
WCSC offers programs to all seniors, ages 50 years or older, and they can be a particularly helpful resource for those on a fixed income. More and more they provide advice and assistance to ‘home insecure’ seniors (those on the verge of homeless.) “We are now starting to see people come by who are homeless,” Levine observed, pointing out that of the FamilyWorks (Fremont’s food bank, also located in Wallingford,) clients, 42% are now seniors.
Three Generations Of Seniors
Levine came on at WCSC as a professional Interim Director, to assess the non-profit agency’s strengths, and weaknesses, after long-time Executive Director Kathleen Cromp left for a bigger opportunity. An announcement of the new, permanent ED, selected with great care and consideration by the WCSC Board, is expected in September.
Since her arrival, Levine has launched some new initiatives, but she’s also learned a lot. “I’m of this baby boomer generation,” she acknowledged. She’s gotten her new ORCA card, with its big, bold ‘Senior’ printed on it. “Working here, I’ve stepped into my life as a senior,” she explained, “This is what ‘senior’ looks like.”
It isn’t what most people expect. “We’re serving three generations of seniors,” Levine explained. WCSC has members in their 70s & 80s, some of whom have been coming for decades, along with those in their 90s, and others in their 50s who may just be starting out. For all ages, WCSC hosts conversations about healthy aging and what it means to be ‘a senior’ today.
Find Something For Yourself
WCSC offers programs and workshops on topic ‘From Retirement To Reinvention,’ to Medicare. They offer consultations with a Social Worker and a foot care specialists. Many programs are free for members (annual individual memberships cost $30,) or are significantly discounted.
According to Levine, WCSC programs focus on four areas:
- Food & Nutrition – hot lunches take place Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays, monthly birthday lunches (with cake!), and nutrition workshops
- Health Promotion & Wellness – yoga class, consultations with a foot care specialist, fitness classes, a Green Lake walk, Flamenco demonstration, happy hours with speakers on stressing less, & finding more joy
- Social/Recreational – card games, cribbage, movie night, outings (including the upcoming Progressive Picnic,) the Sedentary Sousa Band, folk dancing, watercolor classes, writer’s group, knitting circle, the Poggie fishing club, and technology learning & support
- Social Services – consulting appointments, a men’s and women’s discussion group, workshops on Medicare, seniors’ rights, organizing/decluttering
WCSC Friends & Partners Welcome Too!
One-third of WCSC funding comes from the City, which means that they depend upon our community for donations and assistance, to keep programs available.
“Members are very generous,” Levine observed, as much as they can be. WCSC serves over 1,200 seniors, and another 900 community members, who participate in over 16,000 programs and activities each year. Yet, WCSC depends upon support from the wider community. Levine highlighted two targeted donor programs:
- The One-Thousand Friends Of The Center – Individual donors choose to give, whether they currently participate in WCSC programs, or see themselves as someone who may never need or want a senior center, but understanding the necessity of this resource.
- Business Partnerships – Small businesses and corporations give money or in-kind items that the Center needs for operations. Through the WCSC newsletter (‘The Sunnysider’) and its on-line presence, Partners are thanked, with reminders to members and Friends to support these generous businesses.
Levine has also stepped up grant requests, sending out applications to local charitable foundations including the Tableau Community Grant Program that seeks to engage young tech professionals in our community. WCSC welcomes these partnerships, and sparking interest among volunteers for multi-generational activities and sharing.
WCSC has increased its calendar of community events, within the Center and outside of it. The Paella Dinner Fundraiser in July, and a social gathering at Fremont Mischief in August, provided opportunities to introduce WCSC to those in the community unfamiliar with the agency. Levine also welcomes opportunities for more House Parties, where a Friend of WCSC can gather together other friends for a snack and a few words about our senior center, and what it has to offer.
Support For Our Seniors
The Wallingford Community Senior Center may be located nor’east of Fremont, but that doesn’t lessen the important role it can play in providing vital support for our seniors, nor should it deter people at the Center of the Universe from stopping by to see what fun is on today.
If you know a senior, or are a senior, who could benefit from the social and educational programs offered at WCSC, the Center can be reached from METRO routes 26X, 44 and 62. For those unable to drive, walk, bike or bus, WCSC does have van service available – give a call to 206/461-7825.
If you have an interest in volunteer opportunities at WCSC, contact Victoria at volunteer@wallingfordseniors.org Find out more about WCSC, and all our Senior Center has to offer at WallingfordSeniors.org
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©2016 Kirby Laney. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.