The Warren County Senior Center Reopens Wednesday, Nov. 6 in New Location in Health & Human Services Complex

After three weeks, Warren County’s Senior Center had its “soft” re-opening Wednesday morning, November 6, at its new location, a renovated area by the gymnasium in the County’s Health and Human Services complex off 15th Street in the old middle school facility. Royal Examiner spoke with Senior Center Manager Misty Alger to mark the occasion.

“We are located at 465 West 15th Street, Suite 600, which is beside the gymnasium. We come in through the back gate. Today is our first opening and it’s a soft opening. And we are not currently taking new clients; we’re just opening up to our seniors who previously came because we still have different things that we’re putting away and getting acclimated to a new location,” Alger explained. She observed that during the three-week transition period the Center was still putting out food for pick up, as well as delivery meals for homebound seniors every day. “So, no one went hungry” during the transition period, she noted. “We were doing that at the old location. And then this past week we’ve been cooking at the new location. We had to wait for our health inspection,” Alger noted of the new site’s kitchen becoming operational.

Two perspectives on the new WC Senior Center location. In the first photo, the gated entrance is to the left, obscured by columns. In the second picture the Senior Center is the center, single story building. The final shot is of the new kitchen, now serving. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

“We are open Tuesday through Friday, which is our normal schedule. Clients usually arrive any time after 9 a.m., between 9 and 10 o’clock. From 10 to 11:30 we normally have an activity going on, whether it be nutritional educational, bingo, arts and crafts. Today it’s more or less where everybody is getting to know each other again because we’ve all missed each other. So, we have a lot of chatter this morning,” she nodded to the clientele, re-engaging socially throughout the room.

As to operational specifics, Alger added, “So, the clients that come in are 60 and above … We do accept donations for lunch purposes (even from citizens under 60). We are part of Seniors First, which is located here in Front Royal. We are one of six Senior Centers,” she explained of the Seniors First, formerly known as The Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging, umbrella. “We also do the Meals on Wheels here.” Alger then introduced us to “Seniors First” Director of HR and Senior Center Operations Marsha LeBrecht.

WC Senior Center Manager Misty Alger, right, and ‘Seniors First’ Director of HR and Senior Center Operations Marsha LeBrecht.

We asked LeBrecht about the range of the Seniors First umbrella. “We have Page County, Warren County, Frederick County, Winchester City, Shenandoah County, and Clarke County,” she told us.

We are sure the seniors in all those communities are grateful for Seniors First’s sponsorship and the involvement of their local Senior Center staff and personnel. If you are over 60 in any of the above-named communities but have yet to become a client of a Seniors First sponsored Senior Center but would like additional information, try the website <www.seniorsfirst.info> email at <warrensc@seniorsfirst.info> or phone at 540 635-7141.