Letter to the Editor: Senior Center 'Available for Folks Who Need and Want to Stay Active

The Oswego Senior Center, located at the Old Traughber Junior High School, at 156 E. Washington St. provides excellent opportunities for socialization, relaxation and participation in a variety of programs and activities.

Today the senior center has developed into a full service center, open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here is a little insight into what’s available for folks who need and want to stay active, and who are looking for something new and different to do.

On Monday's and Thursday's the center provides a nutritional balance lunch to 100 to 160 seniors at noon. They accept donations and the estimated average donation is $3.60 per person.

Rush Copley and other local agencies are partnering with the center to offer a Wellness Program, which offers Exercise classes, Gentle Yoga, and Tai Chi, “Matter of Balance” and “Chair Living Everyday.”They have workshops, such as “Keep on Track”, for diabetes and blood pressure tracking. Senior Services has an outreach office at the senior center, along with the Kendall County V.A. Commission, which helps Veterans and their families get their V.A. benefits. The Kendall County Public Health department provides Caretaker Support Group Meetings.

This year they have introduced free income tax preparation, and programs to manage their finances. In the spring, they will start a program to help seniors with the state of Illinois S.H.I.P. health insurance program.

Here is list of on going fun activities the center offers: walking club, line dancing, Wii bowling, woodworking shop, pool, bingo, bunco, pinochle, bridge, choral club, quilting, bean bag toss teams, and computer lab. In the spring, the senior center will offer ceramics classes, a garden club that performs spring clean-up and prepares the garden plots for plants and vegetables. Most of the programs are free, but they do accept donations, and some specialty classes charge a minimal fee.

Oswego’s Senior Center connects older adults with new friends, activities, meaningful work and volunteer opportunities, promotes better health and dignity, and offers access to valuable benefits and resources. Many of the seniors who come to the center are widows and widowers and they find new friends and activities that help them to live a longer, productive, healthier life.

If you enjoy socializing, and want to get out during the winter blues, come and be part of a great group of mature adults at the Oswego Senior Center. They offer a variety of programs and activities and provide a foundation of hope and friendship with respect and appreciation.

Chrisi Vineyard, Oswego