About the Center
Mission
The mission of the Senior Center is to enrich the lives of residents in the community as they age by designing support networks, identifying and meeting their needs and interests, and providing services and programs in welcoming, respectful and safe environments. The staff, services, activities, transportation program, meals and Center facility are supported by the towns of Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne with additional funding provided by LifePath, the Massachusetts Office of Elder Affairs, Franklin Regional Transit Authority, local and state Cultural Councils, The Senior Center Foundation and private donors.
Our Services
The Senior Center provides a variety of programs and services, including educational, cultural and wellness programs, presentations and activities, both at the Center and by means of outreach to our consortium towns. Transportation is available for all nine West County towns. The Center is conveniently located in downtown Shelburne Falls on the first floor of the Masonic Lodge. The Center has a dining room and kitchen, used for meals and for our larger activities and social gatherings. The smaller activity room is used for crafts, yoga, health and Veterans services, as well as a computer lab and classroom with free WiFi.
In 2019 The Senior Center served more than 1,000 people who used its programs and services over 28,000 times. This includes over 1,700 meals served, 3,200 wellness programs attended, 600 health and 1,500 outreach services provided, 75 home repair jobs completed, 4,800 newsletters distributed and over 4,400 social and cultural programs attended … all while answering the phone 3,800 times! That same year, using the Center’s three vans, over 3,300 rides were provided to medical appointments, for food shopping and social activities at the Center.
All of this happens in our Center because of dedicated staff and over 100 amazing volunteers who answer phones, prepare and serve meals, lead classes and activities, conduct home repairs and offer many other services amounting to over 15,000 volunteer hours. But the best part is seeing a smile come to someone’s face and new friendships made, hearing a laugh shared, a caring hug given and people heading home having enjoyed a delicious hot meal.
Senior Center Staff
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Juli Moreno, Director
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Teddy Doucette, Outreach Coordinator
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Dot Lyman, Activities Coordinator
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Robert Szafran, Transportation Coordinator/Van Driver
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Hugh Knox, Meal Site Manager
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Gloria Fisher, Office Assistant
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Paul LaBelle, Van Driver
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Michael Shea, Van Driver
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Peter Otten, Van Driver
We are also assisted by over 100 volunteers! Please click here for information about volunteer opportunities.
Senior Center Board of Directors
The Senior Center Board of Directors is comprised of twelve members drawn from the Councils on Aging from each of the three towns: Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne. Each member serves a three year term. The Board meets at The Senior Center on the second Thursday of each month at 3:00 P.M.
Members:
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Janice Wright, Chair, Ashfield COA
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Janice Fleuriel, Vice Chair, Buckland COA
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Ellen Eller. Secretary, Buckland COA
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Sue Bishop, Treasurer, Shelburne COA
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Joanne Soroka, Assistant Treasurer, Buckland COA
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Mary Mosley, Ashfield COA
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Franklin Wayne Wickland, Ashfield COA
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Sylvia Smith, Shelburne COA
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Penny Spearance, Shelburne COA
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Nancy Brewer, Shelburne COA
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Juli Moreno, Ex-Officio, The Senior Center Director
Board of Directors Meetings
Visit the Calendar to find upcoming meetings. Minutes and agendas can be viewed and downloaded from the Board of Directors Minutes & Agendas page.