Seniors forge bonds at Friendship Center

MILLERTON —  The Office for the Aging’s (OFA) Friendship Center is a place where anyone over age 60 can stop in and have lunch, celebrate a birthday with chocolate cake and ice cream, play bingo, and participate in other activities. 

Helen Hopkins, whose birthday was being celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 11, joked as she passed out cake and ice cream, “I’m 25 again—and again, and again, and again!”  

Todd Tancredi, director of OFA in Poughkeepsie, said the aim of the Center is to “provide activities that keep seniors engaged.” He stressed that it is important to “avoid isolation and loneliness.” Especially after the COVID-19 shutdown, it was important to get people back into socializing. He said, “We don’t want people to be home alone.” 

“The friendships are great,” said Doris Barrett, who was getting ready to play bingo. Mindy Weiner, also a bingo player, said of the Center, “I like everyone and the activities we do.”  

The director of the Friendship Center, Martha Schultz, plans activities in addition to serving lunch Monday through Thursday. Regularly scheduled activities include exercises, yoga, crafts, brain games, bingo, and card games. Participants can join in any or all of the activities or just lunch. 

In addition to her other duties, Schultz likes to keep an eye on the health and well-being of the participants at the center. The Department of Behavioral and Health’s mobile unit visits the center periodically.

Special presentations coming up include a painting project on Thursday, Oct. 19; a presentation on healthy living by the Alzheimer’s Association on the Wednesday, Oct. 25; and a Halloween party on Tuesday, Oct. 31. On Thursday, Nov. 9, Sharon Audubon will give a PowerPoint presentation on “Birds of Winter” and on Wednesday, Oct. 15, students from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, will give a musical performance at 1 p.m.

Tancredi is looking for volunteers for a new program called Friendship Calls. Volunteers will be matched with an older adult who has similar hobbies or interests. The volunteer will make one call per week for eight weeks. The call should be 20-30 minutes long. After the eight weeks, Tancredi hopes friendships will have begun and “the calls will continue organically.” Anyone interested in making Friendship Calls should contact him at 845-486-2555 or ofa@dutchessny.gov. 

Schultz is looking for people to deliver meals during the week on a route that takes about 45 minutes to complete. “Lots of volunteers: That’s what makes it work,” said Schultz. Food is delivered to homes Monday through Friday, and anyone interested in delivering meals should call her at the Center at 518-789-3081. Ideas for programs or performances are also welcome.

To find out about home-delivered meals and eligibility for them, contact Tancredi.

The Friendship Center is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex, 28 Century Blvd. A donation of $5 is welcome, but not required, and the Center is accessible.