Taking care of seniors
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
For 10 years a small group of volunteers have been feeding and entertaining hundreds of senior citizens in Lowell on the third Thursday of each month.
The Lowell Recreation Association is about 10 years old, chairman Greg Stanfill said. At first the monthly lunch traveled from church to church, but that was difficult to organize so the group partnered with First Baptist Church of Lowell for the event.
Now the association’s longterm goal of a senior citizen’s center in Lowell is getting a little closer.
When the new Lowell City Hall is built, Stanfill expects to move the monthly luncheons there. A space will probably be available for seniors to visit and play cards a couple of days a week. Stanfill’s group is working with the Area Agency on Aging and the Office of Human Concern towards the expanded program. For now, they still have
the monthly lunch which always includes a speaker or entertainment and a chance to
visit.
“ The seniors — they love this program, ” he said. “ They tell us they
every. Unfortunately for some this may be the best meal they get all month. ” The organization is 100 percent volunteer, although they do contract with a cook for the special Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Once or twice a year, the volunteers ask Catfish John’s to cater. That’s always a popular meal.
Many of the seniors insist on paying, but the meal is offered free to any senior citizen who arrives at the door. Participants don’t have to live in Lowell, Stanfill said. Some people come from Rogers and Springdale for the monthly get-together. He estimates that they feed about 200 people most months.
The Lowell Recreation Association has also been running a program for elementaryschool-aged children, although it’s hiatus. The Safe Place program was taking place at Lowell Elementary School. It featured character-building exercises along with some afterschool fun. Students met once a month from the time school let out to 5 p. m.
Now the board is preparing a new program that can serve both Lowell Elementary School and Tucker School. It will continue the character-building exercises and may also include mentoring.
Most of the funding for the two programs comes from the United Way, but there have been grants from the Walton Family Foundation. Once a year there’s a pitch tournament that also raises some money. The seniors who insist on paying for their meals make up about 25 percent of the cost each month.
There is always a need for volunteers on senior activity days, Stanfill said. Several volunteers, including Stanfill, work at Arvest bank in Lowell. Many of the others are spouses of board members. Anyone who can lend a hand is welcome. To volunteer, call Stanfill at 770-1001.
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