After closing its senior center in northwest Jefferson County, the Aging Ahead agency has begun holding activities for seniors four times a week at two locations in High Ridge.
The nonprofit organization previously had a senior center in the Northwest R-1 School District’s Early Childhood Center in House Springs, where it provided meals for seniors and opportunities to socialize, including playing games, having parties and hearing presentations.
However, the school district needed the space back to house programs the district is expanding or adding, and the senior center closed to the public at the end of April.
Chief operating officer M.J. Grothe said Aging Ahead was able to form partnerships with the Northwest Branch of the Jefferson County Library and St. Martin United Church of Christ, both in High Ridge, to continue programming in that part of the county. Aging Ahead still has senior centers in Crystal City and Arnold.
“With the (Northwest district) wanting to reclaim its space, we had to move quickly, so we’re so thankful for St. Martin UCC and the library for partnering with us and helping to provide programming,” Grothe said. “Between the two locations, we’re programming four days a week; on Mondays and Wednesdays we’re at St. Martin and then Tuesdays and Thursdays we’re at the Northwest Jefferson County Library.”
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, Aging Ahead will offer card games at St. Martin UCC, 3229 High Ridge Blvd. In addition, line dancing classes will be offered on Wednesdays, with beginner lessons running from 11 a.m. to noon, and intermediate lessons offered from noon to 2 p.m.
Programming will not be available at the church during the week of July 21, Grothe said, because of prior commitments scheduled at the church on those days.
Bingo will be offered at the Northwest Branch of the Jefferson County Library, 5680 Hwy. PP, in High Ridge, from 12:30-2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursday. Aging ahead suggests participants offer a donation of $2 to cover the cost of prizes.
A cold, catered lunch will be served during all the activities at each location. Attendees must reserve their lunch a week in advance by calling 636-677-4578. A $5 donation is suggested to cover the cost of the lunches.
The partnership with the library and the church will last through the end of the summer, Grothe said, but she hopes to see it continue after that, adding that Aging Ahead is still seeking a space to open a permanent senior center in northwest Jefferson County.
“Change is hard,” she said. “It was hard for us to leave the school (and) we certainly want to be in Jefferson County. (The church and library) have been crucial in continuing operations.”
Grothe said Aging Ahead will continue operating its kitchen out of the Northwest R-1 Early Childhood Center through the end of July. The kitchen is used to prepare meals for the Arnold and Crystal City locations.
The agency is also actively looking for a commercial kitchen to continue preparing meals for seniors, she said.
The Crystal City location, called the Quad Cities Senior Center, is in the Masonic Lodge at 221 Bailey Road in Crystal City. The Quad Cities Senior Center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Arnold Senior Center is housed in the Jefferson College North campus at 1687 Missouri State Road, which is open 12:30-2 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday.
“We’re still trying to get the word out (about the new programming in High Ridge),” Grothe said. “The goal is to encourage clients to come visit us at those locations, and they can also go to our Arnold and Quad Cities locations. We’re hoping that between those options, people find the right fit for them, and they continue to visit us.”
Grothe said the most up-to-date information about senior activity programming in Jefferson County is available by going to the agency’s website, agingahead.org, and then clicking on “what we do” and “programs, activities and opportunities.”