By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



In one short year, Jody Newman has worked for three mayors, has served more than 6,500 meals, and has recruited more than 100 members at the Kimberly Senior Center.

The center recently celebrated its 1-year anniversary with a big blowout including a potluck supper and plenty of music.

“It has been the most challenging and exciting year of my life,” said Newman, the center’s director. “One year ago, I walked into a totally empty building with no personality, no furniture, no nothing.”

With the help of a friend, Newman filled the building with both furniture and personality, not to mention people. The small building is bursting at the seams on weekdays with the center is open.

However, Newman takes little credit herself for the center’s success.

“This place is filled with talented people,” she said. “I absolutely could not do this without them.”

Newman said the center’s members take charge with different projects that fall within their realm of knowledge and talent. Various seniors head up potluck dinners, do computer work, make scrapbooks and history books for the center, and work with North Jefferson Middle School on sewing and gardening projects.

In addition, Newman has formed and plays in two bands. Other bands and musicians also play at the center every Friday night.

“We have a world of activities,” Newman said. “This has become a place where it’s like family.”

There was recently a scare during which senior centers were slated for possible closure because of severe budget problems in Jefferson County.

Senior centers are operated under the Office of Senior Center Services (OSCS), which falls under the Jefferson County Commission.

“Recently when we thought we were going to close, everybody was so upset,” Newman said. “I asked everybody to write what the senior center means to them.”

Many of the comments bore testament to how the center has become a central component in the lives of local senior citizens:

• “The center has meant a place to go to have companionship and make good friends. Otherwise I was sitting at home lonesome and depressed. I stayed sick all the time. The center has given me a new lease on life.”

• “I believe it would be an awful thing to close any of the centers for it would be like tearing family apart because we have come to love each other as families do.”

• “This place, these people, make me want to be a better man. This place of gathering welcomes, teaches and displays true examples of: Youth, wisdom, humor courage, perseverance, patience, honesty, heart, faith, thought, culture, history, love …”

• “It’s a comfort to be around other seniors sharing our grief and our good times.”

William M. Voigt, OSCS executive director, said the centers seem safe from being closed for now, partly because of protection from the Older Americans Act of 1965, administered through the Alabama Department of Senior Services.

“Most of our budget is federal funding,” said Voigt. He said that if OSCS loses county dollars, it would lose the matching funds required for federal funding.

“That’s why it is likely we’re not going to be affected,” he said.

Newman said that despite a few weeks of fear and worry for Kimberly seniors, she is now operating the center as if it’s in no danger of closing.

“I am going ahead full-throttle with projects,” Newman said. “You’ve got to keep this place going or folks will get bored.”

The funding scare did inspire the center to make one change, however. Now, the center will host a fund-raising activity once a month in order to help maintain itself rather than depending solely on the county for funds.

This month the center made $360 with a potluck supper. Next month will be a silent auction and potluck supper. Newman also envisions a luau down the road.

In addition, senior center members have compiled a cookbook that will soon be for sale.