By Jason Arndt
Editor
The Burlington Senior Activity Center has experienced a series of improvements, both in infrastructural upgrades and programming, since the start of the year,
Most recently, courtesy of a grant from the United Way of Racine County, the center now has funding for essential services such as hiring two coordinators to help members through grief and paying instructors to lead classes and other programming.
The $30,000 essential services grant allows the facility to better serve seniors who don’t necessarily have the funds to pay additional fees beyond the $2 suggested donation.
Senior Center Executive Director Patricia McNamee Rosenberg said the grant also looks to bolster participation among seniors in need of support.
Rosenberg, who cited a U.S. Surgeon General report, said seniors experienced an increase in loneliness following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our largest epidemic now is loneliness,” Rosenberg said, adding the facility looked to have trained people on staff to help seniors. “I would say two or three times a week someone comes in seeking support.”
The United Way contribution is the latest in its partnership with the Senior Center.
Since last year, the United Way contributed funds to help the Senior Center facilitate a tell your story program, allowing seniors to share their experiences through a living history project, and a supper club that has been a resounding success.
Senior Center officials said the supper club program, which includes live entertainment, often sees capacity crowds of 100 people in attendance.
Kathy Baumeister, chairperson of the Senior Center Board of Directors, said the relationship with United Way has “blossomed” and serves as a testament to the facility’s mission to help seniors.
“It has been overwhelmingly successful, and everything is just building and building,” she said.
The United Way’s support has helped the senior center achieve its mission.
“One hour of socialization a week keeps depression and dementia at bay,” Rosenberg said.
Infrastructure improvements
The United Way isn’t the only organization helping the Senior Center.
The Rotary Club of Burlington and Burlington Community Fund each contributed $10,000 to the senior’s kitchen remodeling project.
The two organizations, coupled with in-kind donations, have helped the center with needed upgrades.
“When we came in, the whole kitchen really needed to be redone,” Rosenberg said. “It has changed everything.”
Upgrades to the kitchen have also helped Meals on Wheels, an organization serving meals to seniors, through improved amenities.
“Meals on Wheels operates out of there and it’s just nicer,” Rosenberg said. “The drivers appreciate it.”
The center’s recent newsletter commended Best Flooring for helping to create an affordable solution.
Kathy and Darrel Baumeister have also contributed jar openers, which are used as a fundraiser, and assist in offsetting cost overruns related to the project.
Critical grants
Baumeister said the grants serve as a vital tool to help encourage more seniors to participate in the center’s program offerings.
“Grants are very important to make this place accessible to anyone who wants to come,” she said. “We just ask for a $2 donation for use of the facility. Now, with all of our programs, there is no extra charge for it.”
The grants from United Way will likely bolster mental health resources, she said.
“With mental health, it’s just important for people to socialize. We have people who retire from their job, and all of a sudden they ask themselves what they should do,” Baumeister explained. “This is a good place for them to come and enjoy some of our programs. It will definitely help them mentally and socially.”
While the enter continues to help its own members, the group also has an objective to serve the community, which includes a garden cart placed in front of the facility.
The Senior Center, 587 E. State St., has a garden and often places extra produce on the cart for community members in need of additional vegetables.
Baumeister said residents could contribute a nominal donation while picking up some vegetables.
However, the garden cart could always use a little more produce, Baumeister said.
“We are appealing to people in the community who have gardens and have extra produce to please bring them to us,” she said. “We could put them out in the garden to provide more food to people who need vegetables.”
For more information, visit the center’s website at burlingtonseniorcenter.com or its Facebook page.
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