More Than a Meal: Inside the Harrison Senior Center

Ask most people what happens at the Harrison Senior Center, and they'll mention daily lunch. While lunch is certainly part of the story, it's only a small piece of what happens inside one of Harrison's most active and welcoming community spaces.

Located inside the Harrison Community Center, the Senior Center serves Harrison neighbors age 60 and older Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a full slate of opportunities for connection, activity, and learning packed into those hours.

"Our purpose is to help seniors make connections so they have friendships and they're not lonely," said Senior Center Coordinator Rebecca Nagel. "We want to keep people active, keep them involved, and keep them enjoying life."

Walk in on any given week and you might find an exercise class wrapping up, a round of chair volleyball starting, bingo cards out, a crafting table going, or choir practice underway. Lunch is served every weekday at 11:30 a.m., with multiple options including vegetarian selections, for a suggested $2 donation.

Ask Becky what makes the center special, though, and she doesn't point to the activity calendar.

"Lots of laughter," she said. "We all love to laugh here!"

The friendships built inside the center don't stay inside it. Members head out monthly for local outings and day trips: restaurant visits, sightseeing, and this season, a riverboat cruise along the Ohio River.

The choir has become a particular point of pride. It started with fewer than a dozen members. Now more than 20 singers perform throughout the year for nursing home residents and at community events.

The center also anchors a few quieter but essential services. Meals on Wheels deliveries for local residents are coordinated through the facility in partnership with the Council on Aging, helping older adults stay independent in their own homes. And once a month, Queen City Hospice hosts a grief support group at the center, open to neighbors of any age who need it.

Joining the Senior Center is easy. Harrison residents 60 and older can become members for a one-time $5 fee, just by stopping by and filling out a registration form in person. Membership opens up activities, field trips, announcements, and everything else on the calendar.

Becky has watched membership climb as Harrison has grown, and she reads it as a very good sign for our community: older adults are actively looking for somewhere to stay engaged, not just somewhere to pass time.

If you've got a parent, grandparent, neighbor, or friend who could use more connection in their life, point them toward the Harrison Senior Center. They'll find lasting connections with people there who are glad to make room for one more.

For more information about programs, activities, meals, and upcoming events, visit the Harrison Senior Center or view their events on the calendar:

https://www.harrisonohio.gov/calendar.aspx Special thanks to Rebecca Nagel, Bill Carroll, and Doug Wallin, whose dedication helps make the Harrison Senior Center a place where friendships grow, laughter is shared, and hometown memories continue to be made!