Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE – Area seniors were able to see what the Winona Lake Community Senior Center offers during an open house and welcome lunch Thursday.
People attending the open house were able to visit informational tables from several local organizations serving seniors, ask questions and learn about senior services in the area and take guided tours of the Senior Center facility. There was a complimentary lunch sponsored by Mason Health and Rehabilitation.
Before lunch was served, representatives from organizations like Titus Funeral Home, Home Healthcare, Seasoned Healthcare and CARES were able to talk about what their organization offers.
Holly Hummitch, Park and Senior Center director, told a room full of attendees there were three goals with the open house: to get the Senior Center’s name out in the community, to help people realize they don’t have to a resident of Winona Lake to take advantage of the Senior Center and get people connected to various organizations.
The Senior Center is currently open twice a week and offers a variety of events, including bingo, sponsored monthly lunches and card games, Hummitch said.
The center also has a library and a puzzle room. There is also a workout room that is available for use Monday through Friday as long as the park department office is open.
In an interview afterward, Hummitch said the Senior Center has been around for just about over 20 years.
The Winona Lake Community Senior Center serves adults aged 60 and older. Their mission is to foster connection, purpose and joyful living in this chapter of life, according to provided information. Rooted in faith and fellowship, it is “a welcoming place where older adults can gather, build lasting friendships, stay active and continue growing in purpose. Through engaging programs, shared meals, service opportunities, and meaningful relationships, we strive to be a steady presence in the community, encouraging vibrant living at every stage of life.”
The Senior Center did lose some numbers in the amount of people who attended the Senior Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, “so we’ve been trying to boost membership back since then. It’s been a work in progress,” she said.
She is looking at rebranding the Senior Center in hopes it will help bring community awareness to it.
Hummitch said she was pleased with Thursday’s turnout and wasn’t sure what to expect. Once the Senior Center does its rebranding, the goal is to do more open houses.
