Quitman senior center plans open house

September is National Senior Center Month, and Forever Young Activity Center (FYAC) in Quitman is planning an open house on Sept. 10 to invite the community to come and see what they have to offer the over-50 crowd in the area. 

The FYAC organization was organized in 2009 with the sole intent of providing benefits and services to Wood County senior citizens.  The stated mission for FYAC is “to provide a place for adult fellowship and programs that enrich one’s life.” 

Senior centers are the masters of aging, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), and the council encourages spotlighting these centers during September. According to NCOA, aging masterfully is a core ideal of what many older adults wish to achieve at senior centers. Whether through fitness classes, social activities, volunteer opportunities or education, senior centers continue to be the experts on aging in their communities. 

Pre-COVID, FYAC offered regular programs (art class, musical guests, community speakers, etc.) each Wednesday and Friday, the days FYAC continues to meet.

“We currently have returned to offer health screenings, chair yoga and tai chi exercise programs, craft classes, healthy lifestyles guidance, group activities, friendly competition tournaments and volunteer opportunities,” FYAC Treasurer Daisy Bennett said. “A low-cost meal with recognition of monthly birthdays and the monthly Saturday Supper Club has also returned. 

Far from being a group of “old bingo players,” FYAC seeks to meet the needs of the senior communities of Wood County. It provides a safe place to connect with other older adults for fellowship, make new friends, exercise, get involved in volunteer opportunities, all of which increases the ability to manage and continue to live independently.

Bingo is a big part of FYAC activities. Charitable bingo in Texas benefits a wide range of deserving causes.

“Our major fundraiser is FYAC Charitable Bingo, which is sanctioned through the Texas State Lottery Commission,” Bennett added. “Other traditional fundraisers of FYAC include garage sales, stuffed baked potato luncheon and the Christmas Tour of Homes.

“Our members demand the opportunity to continue to connect. We serve them and others in this community the best we can with engaging programs and activities to enable them to age well, stay healthy and independent,” Bennett added. 

FYAC is very active on FACEBOOK (at Forever Young Activity Center, Quitman) and on the active website (www.quitmanseniors.org). On the website, check out the weekly update to the newsletter BITS & PIECES.

The open house will be Friday, Sept. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend, come and go, meet and greet and check them out.