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Date: 6/22/2023
ENFIELD — The Enfield Senior Center celebrated its 20th anniversary of its building at 299 Elm St.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said manager Mary Keller said. “A lot of other communities are just starting to build new senior centers and a lot of communities have senior centers that have been converted from other buildings.”
She went on to say, “The Enfield Senior Center started in an old church on High Street. Other communities converted schools into senior centers, so it feels really good that we’re celebrating 20 years because I think Enfield was ahead of the curve.”
In honor of this milestone, the center had an anniversary week of fun-filled activities and events from June 5-9. They had over 2,000 visitors that week.
The center hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner sponsored by the Friends of the Enfield Senior Center, a picnic with the Rock Solid Alibi Band hosted by the Police Union & Police Benevolent Association, a Shaded Soul Concert sponsored by Commission On Aging and the anniversary cake sponsored by Enfield Teachers’ Association.
Program Coordinator Nancy Darrah said, “So many people came out to celebrate and participate in the many events. Lots of old friends and new faces.”
She continued, “Time has flown by. It’s been quite an accomplishment making this center grow. It was a lot of work, but so worthwhile.”
The Enfield Senior Center is an active adult community with 20-plus fitness classes, TED Talks, movies, dances and concerts. The center only had two exercise programs when they were on High Street. Now, they have 13, with some twice a week. The gym is an addition from the old center and there are two craft fairs a year. In addition, there is a variety of other offerings.
Enfield resident Marlene Hoginski has been involved in the center for 20 years. She explained she was on the Building Committee for the Senior Center. Now, she is on three different committees: Friends of the Enfield Senior Center, Commission on Aging and Triad while still attending fitness classes at the center taking STIX Rhythm — a class using fitness balls and drum sticks — Zumba classes and POW (People on Weights).
“People who come to our center find it welcoming, friendly and full of life,” Hoginski said. “Many new friendships are made and some even reconnect with others they haven’t seen in awhile. We have so much to offer.”
Keller told Reminder Publishing the senior center was very busy before COVID and when COVID hit, their activity came to a screeching halt. When the center hosted Zoom classes from home, the numbers were not close to what they were in-person before the pandemic.
Once the center opened, people started coming back, and Keller has now seen a bigger difference in numbers getting back to pre-pandemic. She said that people are feeling comfortable coming back to the senior center safely.
“For those that felt comfortable coming, it was great that they could still socialize,” Keller said. “They could still get their exercise classes in and do their arts and crafts. Once restrictions were lifted, we went back full swing right away.”
Keller continued, “It’s having that consistency and stability for people to know they can continue to exercise and not miss out on the health and mental benefits of being here for the shared socialization of being with their friends.”
In the meantime, the center is still looking to bring back classes they’ve lost like Zumba and support groups, and to fill the voids of a few classes they haven’t been able to find an instructor for.
The center is eligible for ARPA funds which they need to apply to the state to receive. The center is working on that application now. They are also looking into online registration where people can use their credit card, trying to bring in new members and reach out to the younger senior population that do not think they are ready to be at the center yet.
When in doubt, the Enfield Senior Center is always planning on offering new programming and keeping the senior population in Enfield healthy, active and educated.
“The biggest reward is being there everyday,” Keller said. “You get to know the seniors, what they’re looking for and how we can help them. Just knowing that we’re providing a service to them that makes them happy.”
Darrah added, “Working here is not just a job. It’s rewarding and I have made many friends through the years. The center itself is socially active and brings many people together, many new friendships have started here. It is positive and nurturing place in the town of Enfield.”
The Enfield Senior Center is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.