Senior Center offers wide range of services, activities to older Sedalia residents

More than warm meals can be found at the Sedalia Senior Center.

Myrtle Hanning, of Clifton City, has been visiting the center for more years than she can count.

“I don’t know what I'd do without the friendship of the people,” she said.

She has been a widow for about 20 years and works hard to keep busy.

“I have been trying to do my best with the older people here because I love them and don’t ever want to see one mistreated,” she said.

She visits the center as many days a week as she can and is in charge of card games. Pitch is the game of choice. She also takes time to visit seniors in the hospital and at local nursing homes.

The Sedalia Senior Center is one of 24 agencies that benefits from United Way donations.

Jody Manuel, interim director, said the United Way donates $10,000 annually to the center.

The money goes toward delivering meals to about 100 Sedalia residents in their homes.

This is a different entity than Meals on Wheels.

“Criteria here is they have to be 60 years of age or older and primarily homebound — primarily is the key,” said Manuel. “We’d love to be able to outreach into Smithton, Green Ridge and other communities. ... We know there are shut-ins out there, but right now, this is a tiny, tiny kitchen. We do the best with what we’ve got here.”

If there is any money left, it will go to the in-house meal program at the center. An average of 80 meals a day are served.

The center also offers fitness classes, in-home services, utility assistance, a family caregiver program and tax help.

Wanda Whitaker has been a volunteer at the center for more than seven years.

“I like to help the people out,” she said. She particularly enjoys helping people who need assistance in filing for Circuit Breaker tax relief.

“It’s a refund on rent or property taxes. Most of the seniors are low income. There’s an income level (to qualify), and most of them are way below that, and they look forward to that money to pay their taxes next year or to do something for the house,” she said.

In the spring, volunteers help about 500 people with their taxes. Services begin Feb. 1 and end in April. However, Whitaker receives calls year-round from residents inquiring about the program.

The Sedalia Senior Center is open to people 60 and older, and there aren’t any income guidelines to participate.

United Way

To coincide with the kickoff of Sedalia-Pettis County United Way’s 2010-11 fundraising campaign, The Sedalia Democrat will publish a series of articles that highlight the various agencies in Sedalia and Pettis County that United Way supports.

The series of articles will focus on how the agencies, 24 of them in all, work to improve people’s lives by providing support, care and nurturing to children, adults and families throughout the community.