Fifty isn’t 50 anymore; neither are 60 or 70.
With that in mind, the non-profit Schoharie County Council of Senior Citizens has unveiled plans for what it’s calling The Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Center.
The Gathering Place will offer everything from computer classes to garden clubs to eventually, day trips and excursions, said SCCSC Executive Director Kimberly Witkowski.
The Senior Council has already purchased the 127 Kenyon Road, Cobleskill site; located back behind TAS Hearth and Patio off Route 7 between the Village of Cobleskill and Shad Point, the 1,200 square-foot building has seen use as a health food store and heritage seed facility.
“It has so much potential for us,” Ms. Witkowski said. “There’s so much room to grow if we’re a success--and we think we will be.”
The Senior Council is run by members of Schoharie County’s 11 senior citizen clubs and also operates the Everything Shoppes.
Though it works closely with agencies like the Office for the Aging, it’s independent and not part of—or funded by--county government.
The money to purchase the property came from investments the Senior Council had made over the years, Ms. Witkowski said, and planning for The Gathering Place began in earnest in January.
Plans call for an April or May opening.
Ms. Witkowski said The Gathering Place is modeled after a successful senior center in Saratoga and inspired by a survey in September that drew an overwhelming 90-plus percent response rate.
“Age has changed, aging has changed,” Ms. Witkowski said, with more people working into their 70s or beyond, but still interested in getting together with their friends, whether it’s to exercise, discuss books, or enjoy arts and crafts—all options outlined in the survey and all of them making the “yes please” list.
Also on the list: speakers, a computer lab, small library, meeting space for other non-profits, and a spot for seniors to meet confidentially with people like insurance consultants.
“We’re going to try to do it all and grow as we can,” Ms. Witkowski said, maybe even, down the road, looking for a way to be a hub for things like respite care or even badly-needed assisted living.
Plans call for The Gathering Place to be open Monday-Saturday.
There will be a $25 membership fee with scholarships available and possibly a small fee for classes.
The Town of Cobleskill has agreed to sell the senior center water and right now, renovations are ongoing, Ms. Witkowski said.
“The Senior Council has worked hard on this and I give them so much credit for everything they want to do,” she said.
“They’re conservative, but not afraid to take a chance on things they think will strengthen their communities.
“People are living so much longer and so active…they’re looking for things to do—during the day and after work. This is going to be the place.”
Donations to the effort can be made through PayPal at SchoharieSeniors.org.
There are also plans for a matching scholarship program—where someone can buy a scholarship and gift another—an online “wallet” where, for example, families could deposit money to be used on classes.
More information is also available online at SchoharieSeniors.com.