The Quad-Cities Senior Center in Crystal City offers lots of fun activities for local residents who are 60 or older. The best part is most of them are free, said Bernita Reinarman, the QCSC resource center administrator.
The senior center, which serves seniors from Pevely, Herculaneum, Crystal City and Festus, is housed in the Masonic Lodge basement at 221 Bailey Road. It is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Some of the activities include bingo, card playing, craft activities, music, dominoes, exercise classes, holiday parties and monthly birthday parties. The center also can provide seniors with information about resources to help them with tax preparation; estate and financial planning; caregiving services and more.
Reinarman said social interaction at the center is one of the biggest benefits for seniors.
“Most of our seniors live alone and are very lonely,” she said. “I’ve had several call me and they would say, ‘My spouse passed away a few months ago and I’m just looking for something to do. I’m just so lonely.’ And once they come in here, they form friendships. They just totally enjoy themselves and start doing things outside of the center too with the friends.”
Reinarman said the center has several upcoming holiday activities planned. From 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, and again on Wednesday, Nov. 29, the center will hold a Christmas card activity, making cards for homebound seniors to receive with their December Meals on Wheels delivery.
A raffle for a Christmas wreath will take place on Friday, Dec. 1, followed by a raffle for a basket of baked goods on Friday, Dec. 8. Tickets may be purchased until the day before the drawings for $1 each or six for $5. Proceeds from the raffles will go toward parties held at the senior center, such as holiday parties and monthly birthday parties.
The center’s annual Christmas party will be held on Friday, Dec. 22.
In addition to all those activities, the center serves a lunch catered by the House Springs Senior Center on Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. Participants need to make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance to ensure enough food is available, Reinarman said.
The suggested donation for the meal is $5 per person but it is not required.
“We don’t turn anyone away if they don’t have the money,” Reinarman said. “But we do ask for donations to help offset the cost of the meals.”
Reinarman said one of the center’s main focuses is the Meals on Wheels program, which has volunteers deliver meals to homebound seniors in Festus, Crystal City, Herculaneum, and Pevely. Before COVID, recipients were provided with hot meals, but since the pandemic, frozen meals have been distributed once a week.
Reinarman said she would like to return to delivering hot meals five days a week, but the program would need more volunteers to make it a reality.
“Right now, I have maybe one third of what I need to be able to deliver into all the areas,” she said. “We are in desperate need of volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels.”
Reinarman said volunteers can choose what level of participation works best for them, whether it be for an hour every day, once a week, once every other week, or even as a substitute driver once a month.
To view the upcoming events calendar or the monthly lunch menu or to get more information about volunteer opportunities, visit the center’s website at agingahead.org. Hard copies of the calendar and menu may also be picked up at the senior center.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the Meals on Wheels program may contact the senior center at 636-937-8333 for more information.