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Wanted: More Seniors The Senior Center Also Needs More Funding In small towns like Buckner, Missouri, community support is often easier to come by than in larger cities. This is evident at the Buckner Senior Center, a place where seniors socialize and enjoy a healthy, affordable lunch, while remaining active, contributing community members long after retirement. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), senior center members have higher levels of health, social interaction and life satisfaction. When asked about the most rewarding aspect of working with seniors, Sharon Parcel, administrator at the Buckner Senior Center, said it's "the seniors themselves." She said that she is able to share the same interests with them, whether it's about grandchildren, spouses or general life experiences. "It's really a lot of work. It's not hard work," she said, "…it's enjoyable work, and I just wouldn't give it up unless I absolutely had to." Although the Buckner Senior Center is small, there is a strong sense of family and friendship as soon as you arrive. However, because attendance is low due to illness, ailments or death, the Buckner Senior Center often struggles to maintain fresh ideas for new activities and events to keep the seniors engaged. "We try to keep ourselves occupied, but with our numbers dwindling, it's becoming harder and harder," 5/ TheBucknerClarion.net January 22, 2015 Parcel said. Despite this, the seniors pass the time with reading, games, crafts, lunch and conversation. They also participate in charitable activities such as crocheting stocking caps to send to war veterans and making crafts to send to homebound senior residents. Parcel stresses that attendance is one of the most important staples of the center. New people bring in new stories, share their experiences and viewpoints, and help keep activities at the center fresh and engaging. Parcel laughs, saying, "We just love it when we get new people, because they've got new stories to tell. Seniors are the best storytellers!" Besides attendance, monetary donations are also needed to keep the center running. The Buckner Senior Center is run "strictly on donations" and some costs, such as office supplies, come out of the staffs' pockets so that every dime possible goes to maintaining quality meals and a comfortable place for seniors. This is something that people outside of the senior community would be shocked to know. Parcel added that most community members are under the impression that the Buckner Senior Center is self-sufficient, however, it's not. On the other hand, the generosity from various individuals enables the Center to stay open. As for those who don't By Tempest Wright have the money to buy a meal, Parcel said, "We don't turn anybody away." Although the Center appreciates every donation received, Parcel hopes that more community members will get involved. "We need more people from the community to be interested in coming up, joining us and supporting us," she said. Regardless of the obstacles, the staff and seniors form a family- like bond, so much so that retired staff often return as volunteers. The seniors also form close friendships as well. Whenever someone is sick or absent, the others notice and are always concerned. "We support each other," Parcel said. The Buckner Senior Center opened over 40 years ago, and Parcel's hopes are that it stays open for decades to come. "As long as we get the donations that we need and membership picks up," she said, "I hope we're here for years to come because there are always going to be seniors…Sometimes when they retire, people tend to want to just sweep them off and shut the door on them. The Buckner Senior Center keeps that from happening." Did you know? (Source: NCOA) ● About 70 percent of senior center participants are women; half of them live alone. ● Seventy-five percent of participants visit their center one to three times per week. ● Today, 11,400 senior centers serve 1 million older adults, daily. Sharon Parcel, administrator at the Buckner Senior Center, hopes more seniors will visit. Thankful for every donation, she hopes for more funding support.

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