Union County Senior Center

I want you to think about your parents for a moment or even your grandparents. Think about what they mean to you. What the whole generation that came before us that paved the way for us, what they mean to us. Now, how do we take care of them as they go through the aging process? Well, here in Union County, they're doing just that. The Union County Senior Center has been an incredibly important part of life for residents 60 and up since its doors first opened. We're one of the number one retirement towns in the state of Georgia. We have a lot of people over 60 and this building is open to each one of those Union County citizens that is six year over. They can come in here and they can find an activity, they can find a wellness activity, they can find a meal, they can find socialization. The things that are most needed, the things that we can most reach, they can find right here.

There are just so many ways that the Senior Center serves local members, exercise classes, sewing, painting and other activities. You can shoot a game of pool, have a meal with friends, but probably the most important thing the center provides. Socialization, because that's a big thing. With people over 60, a lot of them have lost their spouse, their family doesn't live close. They need someone, everybody needs someone and so we try to fill that void with them. But I came here because I'm by myself and I'm 74 and I needed some place to exercise and to try and meet some people. And I eat lunch two days a week and you meet friends and you meet acquaintances. I have six best friends from here.

The Senior Center doesn't just serve people who are physically here. We also operate meals on wheels out of our building. Each week we have five heart routes that go out daily. In total, we send out about 500 meals a week into our community, to seniors that really they need that. Meals on wheels is so important to some of these people, not necessarily because they're lack of funds, you know, they can afford to buy their meals. But maybe they don't have the ability to. They may not be able to drive to the store, they may not be able to stand at the stove and cook. It also serves as a welfare check for these people because some of them don't have anybody.

The Senior Center is yet another facility that was not funded by burdening homeowners with increased property taxes, but rather with SPLOST funds. So through the SPLOST funds, we actually were able to get this building and the additions that we have. And that's how the Union County Senior Center makes life better for the generation that gave us everything.