Hamilton-Blakely center party central for seniors

PRESCOTT – For seniors, citizens, not high school, there’s a place to hang out Monday through Thursday and have fun.

The Hamilton-Blakely Senior Center provides a place where those 60 and over can go, visit with one another, have a hot meal and be entertained. Anita Jones, site manager, said the center is under the administration of David Boone Ministries. The center supplies a hot meal daily for those who can come, and meals on wheels for those who can’t. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Because the center isn’t open Friday through Sunday, the center sends frozen meals home with those who can be there, and to those who can’t via the meals on wheels program. Technically, the meals provided at the center are free, but a donation of $3 per meal for those 60 and over is accepted. For those under the age of 60, the requested donation is $5. The idea it to help the seniors live life as normally as possible, being around others. The meals served are nutritious, but, now and then, the clients get pizza as a change of pace.

Along with the meals, the clients are also entertained. Jones said the center tries to have movies and popcorn on Mondays, singing Tuesday and Thursday, with Bingo and prayer. Wednesday there is usually inspirational singing with different churches coming to perform, along with the Prescott Singers.

Clients become more like family than friends. When one passes away, a sympathy card is purchased with everyone signing it. The card is either sent to the funeral home or is mailed to the family. Each day, a birthday celebration is held – if anyone is having a birthday. On Thursdays, if someone is having a birthday over the weekend, their natal anniversary is celebrated a few days early. Additionally, the center celebrates holidays. Currently, it’s decorated for Halloween with clients asked to come in costume on Oct. 28.

Normally, Jones said, 12-20 people show up each day, with more showing up during the holidays. Next up, she continued, the center is planning for the Thanksgiving celebration and will have another fete for Christmas.