Senior center an important part of the community

By Gina Smith
March 30, 2011

The Caliente Olsen Senior Citizen Center is a place full of activity for our senior citizens and benefits the community as a whole.

The center hosts games throughout each month for our seniors. Games include Scrabble; ?penny poker keno?, a combination of poker and keno where you play with pennies; ?hate your neighbor?, a pairing game where you make pairs but keep your neighbor from making them; regular poker; and bingo, which always draws a packed house.

The center hosts what is called ?potluck bingo?, where everyone brings a dish to share, eat and play bingo. The center also holds a weekly crafters night as well as a weekly exercise class tailored to individual needs.

If seniors have transportation issues, a bus will go and get individuals to take them to the senior center for activities.

Not only do our senior citizens have a fun place to go and socialize, they are also taken care of with lunches on a daily basis. Homebound customers receive meals thanks to Meals on Wheels. This program goes beyond just delivering food. These drivers care for and look after their customers. A plan is in place that if a driver can?t get a hold of a customer, a chain reaction will occur to make sure they are safe. Lunches are delivered weekdays to all four communities in Lincoln County, a total of 200 meals per day.

Board member Betty Clairborne said goals for the center include ?keeping the seniors active. Our goal is to take them to shows, plays or movies, to get them out in the community as much as possible. We have goals to maybe go on a big trip to a national or amusement park for our senior citizens.?

The center is also available to the entire community with the building available to rent for special events.
Anyone is welcome to volunteer and get involved with the center and the senior citizens of Lincoln County, which make our community one of a kind!