Eidlitz on the Hopkinton Senior

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Purpose, Identity, Nourishment, Nurturing

Hopkinton Senior Center strengthens seniors

Above, a senior plays Wii bowling last year, while another awaits her turn, and some teens make sure everyone knows how to use the new technology.

by Elizabeth Eidlitz

February 14, 2010 — Old age is redefined by Sadie and Bessie Delany, civil rights activists at 106 and 104; Arthur Winston, retiring at 100 after 72 years working for the Los Angeles Metro, Doris (“Granny D”) Laborde, beginning her acting career at 93; Olive Riley, a great-great grandmother, starting to blog at 107, and a 95-year -old man using the computer room at the Hopkinton Senior Center because he wants to improve his skills at downloading music.

Enter the state-of-the-art building on Mayhew Street, and you’ll hear “Good morning” --loud, clear and enthusiastic --from official greeter J. M. of Ashland, who prefers semi-anonymity.

The retired Special Needs teacher, a Council on Aging board member and multi-tasker, now teaches mind games, leads movie discussions, makes fundraising signs and sandwich boards, maintains the Senior Center bus and van, and recycles $5,000 worth of bottles a year.

J.M. is one of more than 200 dedicated volunteers, ages 14-90, who make the Center feel like home.

“Forty percent of our volunteers work 20 hours a week. They’re there for rummage sales and fundraisers. They’ll fold newsletters, hang clothes, or wrap silverware. We don’t need any recruits because no one wants to leave,” says Ellen Wright (File photo, right), Volunteer Coordinator/SHINE Counselor, who uses her previous corporate experience to work with the volunteer training program, an advisory board, and coordinators for each department who report to a paid staff worker.

“In many cases our volunteers are seniors who’ve lost a partner, a job, a house. They need a purpose and their own identity,” Wright adds, “and they can find it here.”

Pat Baratta, a former NCR Corporation Business Operation Manager, who serves food in the lunch program, is a member of the COA Board of Directors and the Volunteer Advisory Committee.

When he retired 10 years ago, he immediately became involved in The AARP Driver Safety Program.

“I still do that,” he says. I’m The Massachusetts Telephone Coordinator for the program.”

But Baratta, who also started volunteering at the Hopkinton Senior Center when it was a cramped one-room facility in the Town Hall basement, says, “I love my work at our Senior Center because I’ve met and made some wonderful friends. I enjoy interacting with folks from varied backgrounds. One gentleman I met here worked on The Manhattan Project. Now! Is that not interesting?

“Several husbands and wives, who served together during WWII, married and settled in Hopkinton. Their war stories and romance memories are priceless. I’m originally from New York City so I enjoy hearing stories about Hopkinton of old and how, over the years, the town has changed.

“When a senior tells me, 'I come here to be nourished and to be nurtured,' I leave the center with a feeling of satisfaction that I do something worthwhile, helping some seniors enjoy a nice lunch, while reaping immense pleasure for myself.”

Gerry Sylvestro, Coordinator of volunteers at the reception desk, points out that “It’s great to see people you grew up with. If you don’t come, you miss a lot.”

What do you miss?

The chance to form “new and great relationships,” according to Cindy Chesmore (File photo, left), director for 22 years, and a panoply of activities from Art classes to Zumba (dancercise):

Dog training, diet support group, day trips, tax preparation, Book club, Tai Chi, Yoga, line dancing, chorus, chair volleyball, belly dancing, pottery, knitting, quilting, painting, and memoir writing, play reading, Mind Games, gardening in the new greenhouse, pool, cribbage, bingo, scrabble, Boot canasta, bridge, poker, and chess.

Not to mention a talk on Understanding Islam, free computer tutorials, the monthly Veterans’ breakfast, and, sometimes, a seafood Newburg lunch.

Committed volunteers and staff, the range of opportunities, the outreach program, (in 2008, the department completed 558 supportive visits to homebound seniors and 37 applications from Hopkinton families for fuel assistance), and the community atmosphere at the Hopkinton Senior Center, redefine ‘advocacy’ for older adults.

Please enjoy photos taken of various events. Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

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