Betti Stasi, a Northeast resident, exercises Friday at Holy Cross Senior Center, located in the church auditorium at 5106 St. John Ave. All seniors are welcome from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays. Emily Randall

By Emily Randall
Northeast News
Feb. 17, 2010

Mary Frances Workman was a Historic Northeast resident for 75 years before she reached an age where taking care of her home became too much work.

Workman moved to a downtown apartment, where most of the other residents are considerably younger than she is. The 83-year-old woman keeps busy and socializing with her peer group, however, as she continues to be active at the Holy Cross Senior Center five days a week.

“[I enjoy] getting out of the house,” said Workman, an 80-year member of Holy Cross Church. “It’s a place to go to talk to people.”

The senior center has been located in the second floor of the Holy Cross auditorium for about nine years. Years ago, there were 25 to 30 regularly active folks involved at the center, but the numbers are down to more like 10 seniors these days.

Senior Center Administrator Charlene Davis said the decline hasn’t been for lack of interest, rather, those who were involved have become homebound, gone into nursing homes or died, and new seniors haven’t found their way to the center.

Thanks to increased resources from Catholic Charities, the group has added new activities. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the seniors exercise along to a video. On Tuesdays, an instructor leads the workout. On Mondays, a nurse and social worker come into the center. The nurse checks blood pressure, screens for Diabetes and answers health questions. The social worker deals with other issues, for example, if someone is struggling to pay rent or if they need help finding transportation to their doctor’s office.

On this coming Monday, the nurse will provide free Glaucoma testing.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. The group has a hot lunch every day provided by the Don Bosco Senior Center for a suggested donation of $2. Those who participate in the activities at Holy Cross Senior Center also volunteer for Meals on Wheels daily by packing up about 100 meals to go out to homebound people.

Davis said the seniors enjoy helping pack the meals.

“That’s half of what’s driven these women to come,” she said. “It gives them structure to their lives, keeps their minds active.”

The seniors also play bingo daily. Davis said with more people joining them, they could get other games going at the same time.

“The neighborhood seems to not have the jist that this is still here,” she said. “We need people to start coming.

“I think it’s been good for them. It’s a lot better than … sitting around moaning there’s nothing to do. Yes, there are things to do in the community if you just look for it.”

To find out more or RSVP for lunch, call 231-8864.