Staff at The Center continues program – building
A transformation is well underway at The Center – formerly known as the Sweden Senior Center – in the Village of Brockport.
“We’ve moved rooms around, cleaned out and re-organized,” says Building Supervisor Deanna Irvine, who began working in the position just after the first of the year.
The Sweden Town Board decided during their budget process in 2014 to continue to fund The Center following a public outcry over fears that the town would close the Senior Center and sell the building located at 133 State Street.
Town leaders made it clear last year that they wanted to see greater participation by community members if The Center was to continue to receive funding.
Much is happening and Irvine says her job involves working with staff members and volunteers to continue to, “build programs and take care of participants … we want to make it a more family environment,” she explains.
Irvine says programs offered by the Sweden/Clarkson Community Rec Center on Lake Road will not be replicated at the State Street site. Family activities are being developed and might include chess tournaments or a community garden, Irvine says. She is also working to establish new outside connections which provide income, low or no cost programming, and help with dining services provided by The Center.
“We’re looking outside the box,” Irvine explains, “you try ten things and maybe eight work.”
One successful partnership which will likely continue to grow is with Lifetime Assistance Inc., which recently increased its presence at The Center. On March 16, The Center became a pre-work site for Lifetime through The Center’s dining program – which serves a noontime meal Monday-Friday as well as 2 to 3 in-house monthly meals.
The program with Lifetime includes a full-time job coach, one part-time Peerplace data collections and input person and five Lifetime pre-workplace clients who are at the center from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day.
“It’s a wonderful program,” Irvine notes. The program is a win-win, helping Lifetime to get more members out of their Paul Road facility while assisting The Center with the promotion and growth of new programs and decreasing payroll needs.
The Lifetime clients help in the kitchen and receive training to prepare them for work in the food service industry and restaurants in about 12 to 18 months.
Noon-hour meals are provided through Monroe County/ABVI, but now Irvine says, Lifetime clients help to make the brought-in meals more appetizing. “They are able to add that extra touch,” she says, for example, “we are using china instead of paper plates.” Two in-house meals are also planned in April – one on April 29 featuring spaghetti and meatballs and a performance by the Senior Chorus, and a second luncheon the following day, April 30, featuring a hot dog and hamburger cookout with a performance by the Brockport Central School Hilltop Singers and Top Brass.
“After the kids perform, they will stay and have lunch with the seniors,” Irvine says.
The Center is also opening its Cafe, located in the former game room. Irvine says a full-service meal will be provided every Tuesday with food brought in through Monroe County/ABVI, but served in a more upscale fashion instead of cafeteria style.
Sweden resident Gary Skoog was instrumental in the conversion of the room, Irvine says, removing wallpaper and applying a fresh coat of paint. Rick Popen, Greg Kenny, Judy Perkins and Lori Skoog also helped out with the effort. The Cafe is also the site of a new movie and snack program from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays. The cost is $2.50/person, and Irvine says The Center will make the movie family-friendly and kid appealing for the summer break months of July and August.
Irvine is working to procure community sponsors – local and regional companies – to help support The Center and its programs, and is having success. “All I have to do is ask,” she says.
Duane Beckett of Sunnking donated three computers and a flat-screen TV and Irvine has worked with Medical Motors (Monroe County) to take full advantage of their van service. The van provides regular trips to Wegmans, Wal-Mart, Aldi’s, Goodwill, Seymour Library and the Dollar Store.
Agape Physical Therapy is offering Thera-bands workouts at The Center on Thursday afternoons, and Brockport Ambulance will be providing CPR classes at a cost of $20, Irvine says.
“People can make reservations by calling the office (637-8161),” Irvine says.
A partnership with Foodlink is also in the works, to move their site from the Oak Orchard Health complex on West Avenue to The Center in June/July. “It would benefit the community a lot,” Irvine explains, “it would be more accessible.”
And that’s not all – additional activities at The Center include renting-out the facility for private parties and gatherings; the Give-A-Lift program for those who need rides to and from appointments; quilting, sewing and knitting community service groups; Silver Sneakers; The Center Fitness Room; and classes – including line dancing, Tai Chi, and Qigong Shibashi.
The Baking Club meets on Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. to bake and package cookies for sale. The club is open to anyone 12 or older and proceeds from cookie sales benefit SSAI, which supports and improves senior programs in the area.
“Individual (town and village) board members have stopped in and are happy with the changes – they see the value in The Center,” she says.
For information on programming call the center at 637-8161. Current hours: April 1 through August 31 are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
