Palmer seniors well served for 25 years

A very significant silver anniversary is being celebrated this week in Palmer. The city's senior center marked 25 years of serving the needs of area seniors on Wednesday.

Twenty-five years of existence is a noteworthy milestone for any organization. When a nonprofit group, such as the Palmer senior center, achieves such longevity, it is, perhaps, even more significant.

The uncertainty of funding, more than anything, makes keeping a nonprofit organization afloat especially dicey. The senior center has not only merely existed for 25 years, though, it has thrived. New programs and services have been added over the years, and the center has become a social hub for seniors. The center offers programs designed to help seniors fill a range of practical needs in addition to being a place where seniors can get together for meals and activities.

The lifeblood of the center, as with many nonprofit groups, is its army of volunteers. They are largely responsible for the success of the center and the growth in programs offered there to its 333 members.

As much of a constant as the center has become over the years, so, too, has the need for volunteers. As the region's population continues to age, more residents will look to the center for the programs and services it provides.

Anticipating an increase in the number of people it serves, the center is making plans for expansion into a new building. Center staff say there is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, and no one is too old to help out in some way.

With the continued support of the community and the generous spirit of volunteerism that has seen the center through its first 25 years, the future is bright for the Palmer senior center and the population it serves.

Congratulations on this milestone. We hope that all who have been a part of the center over the years can share in the sense of accomplishment that comes with 25 years of quality service.