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Date: 4/4/2022
HOLLAND – This spring, the Holland Community Center has tons of events for residents to participate in including a newcomer’s day, movie showings and family meetings – all to bring the community back together after COVID-19.
The Holland Community Center started out as a senior center in 2006 but changed the name to the community center in 2012 that way anyone can join their activities.
For the month of April, the center has a schedule of numerous events including a free showing of the movie “Hamilton” on April 11 at 1 p.m. with popcorn included.
On April 19, the Community Center is hosting a newcomers day for people who moved into town over the past few years that were not able to meet anyone because of the coronavirus pandemic. On April 13 at 6:15 p.m., the center is hosting a grandparents raising grandkids meeting. Finally, on April 27, Bemis Farms will host a project at 1 p.m., and later on at 7 p.m., the center is hosting a candidate’s night.
With the town elections coming up, the Community Center is giving the candidates a chance to publicly interact with residents of Holland.
“The past two years have been difficult for everybody especially for seniors,” said Director/Outreach Coordinator Brenda Palmer. “I thought [these events] would be a chance for people to meet and get together. We’re a very small town with a lot going on.”
The center will be offering several programs within the next few months. Every Monday and Wednesday they offer in-house and takeout meals that are cooked at the center by their Kitchen Manager, Rose. On Mondays and Wednesdays there are groups who participate in Mah Jongg, and Texas Hold’em on Monday evenings. Twice a month they offer Bingo on Mondays at 1 p.m.
“I call us the fun center,” Palmer replied. “I notice that we get more people to come to card games and tile games like dominoes, so we’re more about the games. The reason why I like us having so many game-type of events is because they’re all things that make you have to use your brain.”
She continued, “The town of Holland is age-friendly and dementia friendly. We do our best to take care of those people and make sure they are accommodated. When you can accommodate the seniors and people with dementia then you can accommodate more people at the same time. People will be more inclusive.”
Tuesdays are their crafting and quilting days, and once a month they have a woman come in to do manicures and pedicures, also on a Tuesday. Wednesday mornings they offer an exercise class where the instructor teaches yoga, cardio and strength work called “Mix it up with Deb.” As well as having Yoga, the center hosts a Stained-Glass class on Wednesday evenings.
On Thursdays it’s Tai Chi, Stained Glass and Cribbage, along with a Pitch tournament at night. Additionally, they host Book clubs, Council on Aging meetings and Friends of the Holland Community Center (FoHCC) meetings, all of which anyone can attend.
The Holland Community Center’s May calendar is filling up just as quickly with events, such as a Dolly Parton impersonator, Senior Preparedness meetings, Mass Bar Association meetings and another newcomer’s event at night.
“This center is for everybody,” Palmer said. “As people get older, sometimes the older people might not be seen or heard. They get passed by occasionally, and this is a place for them all to be recognized, to be heard and be supported.”
The Holland Community Center is located at 40 Brimfield Rd. They are open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. and Tuesdays from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. For more information call the center at 245-3163 or email activities@hollandma.org.