Although the Summerland Seniors’ Drop-In Centre offers a full calendar of events each month, it has seen a decline in membership over the last number of years.
“It’s still important to a number of people, for the activities that are here,” said Sheila White, president for the association. “We try to keep the cost down as much as possible but we have to maintain our building.”
The drop-in centre was built in 1967.
“When they first started the drop-in there were about 400 members,” said White. “They worked like dogs. They beavered away and they paid for the building and paid for the land, so we own this building and land outright.”
John Stringer looks after the building now. “I’m a jack of all trades,” he said. “I’m the maintenance man.”
Stringer is on site seven days a week, popping in and out and checking on things. He said that he enjoys volunteering in this way, although his wife gets a little upset with him at times because of it.
The only paid employee at the association is the janitor.
“We have to be very good to our janitor because if he quits, I don’t know who would ever do what he does for what we pay him,” Stringer explained.
Paul Reinholdt has been a member of the drop-in centre for 20 years. He said he came on board in order to apply for grants and he has been successful with that.
“We got a new washroom, dish washer, refurbished the kitchen, got new lights, new floors, new toilets and a new roof,” he said.
Volunteers are needed to host the many activities the Drop-In Centre offers.
Bingo is one of the more popular activities.
“We have an average of 40 to 45 people every Monday afternoon. We need a lot of volunteers to help with it,” said second vice president, Rhea Larson. “Our older members love it because it gives them something to do every Monday afternoon and we have a good kitchen staff that look after the refreshments for us.”
Marg Dionne is one of those kitchen volunteers. “I work once a month on bingo day,” she said. “I do the hot dogs for people.”
Opal Kenzle enjoys setting out score cards and papers for cribbage every Friday afternoon. “We have six or seven full tables,” she said. Kenzle also takes home the tea towels and dish cloths each week, for laundering.
Every fourth Saturday there is a crib tournament. “Betty Barnes runs that,” said White. “They usually have around 60 to 70 people come. They get good prizes and have tea.”
Keith Dixon produces the events calendar each month and said he came to have that job because of his experience with using a computer. Calendars are available for pick up on a table at the centre’s front entrance. Dixon, who uses crutches and a wheelchair, finds the Drop-In Centre to be totally accessible. “I don’t know anywhere else I could go to play sports like carpet bowling,” he said. “Over the course of my life I have participated very little in sports because of my disability and here in my retirement years I can get out there and do it from a chair.”
There are many other activities held at the Drop-In Centre each month and Geraldine Koropchuk works hard at coming up with ways to promote them. She recently has contacted the Welcome Wagon, in order to distribute an event calendar to all newcomers to Summerland.
The drop-in association is always looking for new members, especially younger ones. In order to become a member all one must do is come and join and pay the dues, White said. “Members get a 25 per cent cut in the costs of any activities.”
The fourth Wednesday of every month a pot luck dinner is held at 5:30 p.m. where all attendees bring a dish.
The invitation is open to everyone, so please, drop in.
