‘It was a shock,’ Everett Senior Center looking for new home

EVERETT, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Everett Senior Center will look for a new home after the Everett Fire Department will not continue the lease with the group.

The center stood amongst the downtown strip for 23 years. With plans for the fire company to use the site in the future, they have until June 30th to find a new place to have their gatherings.

The members are disappointed, but understood the decision.

“I didn’t think that was nice of them,” Mary Nicholas, a 10-year member of the senior center said.

“I was disappointed,” Jim Mack, a four-year member said. “I think it’s reasonable to meet our needs. However, it’s the fire department’s property. They get to choose what they do with it. I certainly hope that whatever the plan to do with this will help the community as much as the senior center has done.”

“It was a shock at first, and then disappointment,” Harry Leonard, the senior center president said. “But the fire company is part of our community. So, as senior citizens, we try to support our fire company as much as we possibly can.”

The senior center took to Facebook , sending out a letter to discuss the situation that they face. They also asked for helping hands in the community.

“We’ve sent letters to various businesses and stuff,” Leonard said. “As of now, we have not gotten any responses, but I’m sure that things will look up and we’ll get more responses as time draws closer.”

As the population of senior citizens rises in Everett, the center provides a place to socialize with people who have had similar experiences. This socialization can provide many physical and mental benefits.

“Having a supportive partner or a supportive family is beneficial, but there are health benefits to socializing even outside of those family members,” Peggy Steinbrunner, a psychologist at Horizon Behavioral Health in Everett said. “Because people tend to be more physically more active when they interact outside of those tighter circles.”

Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters .

With the senior center facing closure, Steinbrunner worries about the potential increase in isolation within the senior citizen community.

“Folks rely on that,” Steinbrunner said. “In our county, especially, we have an aging population that is growing quickly. And because we are in a rural area, it’s even more limited spaces for folks to gather and have healthy options and healthy social supports.”

There is a current GoFundMe page that is set up for donations for the Everett Senior Center. If you cannot use the page, in-person donations are acceptable in the form of checks.

“There have been several people who stepped up and have offered sums of money, but not nearly enough to purchase a building that would be suitable,” Mack said. “Hopefully we can attract enough attention that people will be able to contribute.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.