North Carolina woman is senior’s rising star

DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — When Anna Claire Kelly took the senior activities coordinator position at Davidson County Senior Services, she had no idea how rewarding the opportunity would be.

She was looking for a change after working at boutique for four years.

Kelly joined the team in Oct. 2021, taking on the challenge of rebuilding the activities programming and keeping seniors connected through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kelly launched new activities and educational programs such as helping senior adults with technology, offering craft classes and starting a book club.

“We read a book that has a recipe in it or has some kind of food in it, and then I make the food for the book club and then give them the recipe so if they want to make it, they can,” she said.

Kelly is the SilverArts coordinator for this year’s Davidson County Senior Games.

She welcomed 152 SilverArts entries which set a new local record.

These accomplishments are part of why the 23-year-old employee received the 2024 North Carolina Association on Aging (NCAOA) Rising Star award.

According to NCAOA’s website , the award is giving to an employee with three or fewer years of work experience.

Kelly was nominated by Davidson County Senior Center Manager Christie Smith.

Kelly received the award at NCAOA’s annual conference.

“It makes me feel great, especially to have such strong support behind me,” she said.

Kelly says she feels rewarded knowing that she’s helping the people who come to the senior center.

“It’s been more than I ever would have dreamed could come out of a job. I know at the end of the day it’s a job, and it’s a paycheck, but to do something that you actually love and enjoy going to work, and I get to see all these amazing people every day, I love it. It’s amazing,” she said.

Kelly not only serves seniors in our area, but she’s also the head of marketing and the website administrator for the North Carolina Senior Center Alliance Committee.

The website she revamped helps other senior centers find the resources they need to serve their communities.

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