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Senior center languishes photo by Bob Pennell Once-bustling Central Point site faces uphill struggle trying to attract clients By BUFFY POLLOCK CENTRAL POINT � Some community members are trying to turn a sleepy senior center back into the place it used to be � a fun hangout for older folks. Once busy with day trips, craft shows, dances and exercise classes, the senior center at 123 N. Second St. doesn�t see much activity these days. A tour bus hasn�t pulled out of the parking lot in more than three years, and aerobics classes � when they�re offered � rarely raise the heart rate of anyone other than the instructor. That�s despite a Central Point City Council agreement this spring to contribute $10,640 to continue the center. The Food and Friends meals program, run by the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, has spent much of the past year struggling to maintain funding for Central Point and 13 other sites in two counties. "It�s really sad," said Dick Halley, a member of the City Council. "You may see a dozen people down there eating lunch, and they have enough food to feed over 60 people. Twelve years ago, those tables were packed. Ten large tables, completely full." The Food and Friends program delivers 220,000 meals annually in Southern Oregon to some 4,000 residents older than 60. More than 140,000 meals each year are delivered to people who can�t leave their homes. The meals are prepared by ACCESS Inc. and delivered to 14 sites in Jackson and Josephine counties. But fewer than 20 meals are served weekdays on site in Central Point. Another 80 meals go to homebound seniors. The city helps fund the part-time program manager and pays the center�s utility bills, but Halley said fewer and fewer seniors are taking the trouble to come in. "Most of the meals being served are takeout or delivery, and they�re even unhappy with that. They say it tastes like baby food," he said with a laugh. Halley and several others, including Ora Corliss, site manager, and Carol Fischer, president of the board of directors and a former councilwoman, are working to increase funding as well as activity levels at the 40-year-old center. "Not to mention get some better food in there," Fischer said. Fischer explained that the meals, kept in warmers to continue cooking, are shuffled between many places before they are eaten. "And each place warms just a little more so that they turn into mush. "I�ve been corresponding with state representative Cherryl Walker to locate funding to establish a licensed kitchen at the center," Fischer said. "If we could provide home-cooked meals, I think that would draw them back in. RVCOG feels we should continue with ACCESS, but that�s more for homebound people. Besides, if you get good food, fellowship follows." But Halley said there�s more to the problem than food. Some members have moved out of the area, died or relocated to communities that offer clubhouses, Halley said. But he believes membership is lagging simply because there�s "not a whole lot of anything going on." "I asked (seniors), �Remember when there were day trips?� First thing they brought up was how much it cost," Halley said. "We�re basically at the point of pinpointing the problems and getting ideas to correct them. First we have to get the food issue changed. Then get more activities and crank up the tours again. But it all has to be financially feasible." Site manager Corliss said some ideas for bringing folks back in to the center include an adopt-a-grandparent program, quilting lessons, potluck suppers, dances and maybe a monthly party to celebrate members� birthdays. "After September, we�ll hopefully start up more activities than we�ve been having," said Corliss. "That is, if we can get people to participate." During the summer, card games are played the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Beginning in September, aerobics will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays and bingo will be played the first and third Tuesdays. Membership is $5 per year. For more information, call the center at 664-4933. "Some people think they�re too young to join, but we�re not picky," Corliss said. "We�ve racked our brains on how to get people in here. We just want members." Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.