“The Morgan Hill Senior Center is a playground, a brain stimulator, a source of socialization.”
From left: Ritchie, Linda, Beth and Mike visit the center for the nutrition program. They have theme days/parties throughout the year and that day was the Hawaiian Luau day. Photo courtesy Dorie Sugay
By Dorie Sugay
Dorie Sugay
We need a vibrant community of older adults . . . and believe it or not, you can help ensure it.
Despite the fact that many individuals older than 50 are aging well, many still have inaccurate opinions of older adults in general. This is unfortunate because older Americans contribute more than $8 trillion dollars to our economy.
Older adults continue to contribute to economic growth, provide innovative solutions that help benefit many — many companies are still enjoying their work. They are in hospitals volunteering or helping a son or daughter raise a possible future leader by babysitting. They are tutoring the boy next door. We need a vibrant community of older adults — and you can help ensure that we have this in our community.
The Morgan Hill Senior Center is a playground, a brain stimulator, a source of socialization. We can start by supporting the center. We can start by making sure our older adults have a place that welcomes them and appreciates their role in our society. We can start by giving our older adults a place to continue learning, to continue being, to continue to enjoy life and continue to find ways to tap on their creativity and challenge their intelligence.
The Senior Center receives funds from the government but with budget cuts, many programs were threatened — hence, the Friends of the Morgan Hill Senior Center (FMHSC) was born, thanks to the passion of Cricket Rubino. With a small group of amazing caring individuals, Cricket has been able to help the Senior Center continue the programs older adults need. Because of these heroes in the background, the Senior Center has been able to continue providing the RYDE transportation program, Health Insurance Counseling, Senior Adult Legal Assistance, Dementia Caregiver Support Group, despite challenges. Furthermore, thanks to funds raised by this group, the Nutrition Program (in conjunction with the YMCA and Santa Clara County) which is well-known for its reasonably-priced delicious lunches, and Health and Wellness Classes have continued to delight our older adults in the community. Even during the pandemic, the Nutrition Program continued to be a great resource for many.
The pandemic has maximized financial challenges and the Senior Advisory Committee along with the FMHSC cannot, without more help, ensure the needs of the Senior Center and are secure and have the ability to provide much needed programs in the future. Our erratic economy has proven that to survive the future, one must plan.
The FMHSC and the Senior Advisory Committee recognize that an endowment campaign must be launched; that the key to ensuring the future of the Senior Center is to involve the community. Whether you wish to give a gift of your legacy, a gift to honor or memorialize someone you care about, or you just plainly recognize that every little bit of help is critical to ensuring that the programs continue, please consider participating in this endeavor by sending a donation.
Employers/Individuals: If you can donate $5,000 or more, whether they be deferred gifts, outright gifts or bequests in wills, we will recognize your generous contribution by placing your name or company name on the Friends of Morgan Hill’s Senior Center Giving Tree. Naming Rights at the Senior Center are also available. Please contact Anna Bieleck at (408) 310-4255 or Denise Melroy at (408) 782-4254.
Dorie Sugay is the executive director of Visiting Angel and involved with senior issues in Morgan Hill. She can be reached at (408) 846-2988 or email here at [email protected].
