EVELYN HOWELL/HERALD STAFF WRITER

EVELYN HOWELL | daily herald Florence Conner with the help of teacher Sarah Futrell displays her tablecloth she embroidered at the J. W. Faison Center in Jackson as Lillian Mitchell and Clonnie Reynolds look on. Advertisement

JACKSON - Each day senior citizens in Northampton County are given opportunities to enhance the quality of their lives and contribute in a meaningful way to society.

Although Northampton County's Office on Aging and the J.W. Faison Center in Jackson are separate services each share a common goal - to help improve the quality of life for senior citizens who are 60 years and older and their caregivers.

At the J.W. Faison Center, seniors get to participate in arts and crafts and take field trips to places such as Niagara Falls, the state fair, theater and shopping.

“Everything is free except trips,” said Rebecca Bayse, director of the J.W. Faison Center, adding that they try to keep the costs at a bare minimum.

Bayse said people look forward to coming to the center because of its wide range of services and has even given 43 electric fans this summer to seniors 60 and older.

“Everyday is rewarding working with people especially when you have so much to offer them,” said Bayse, pointing out they offer a SHIIP (Seniors Health Insurance Information program) to help people who are new to the Medicare program to find a prescription drug plan as well as supplemental insurance.

“We do a lot of educational pieces with that because a lot of people think Medicare is automatic but it's not,” she said, adding that Medicare does not always cover everything.

The center also offers an active diabetic program that discusses nutrition and other challenges posed by diabetes.

Bayse said so far the center has mostly females participating. “It's harder to get the men here because men are not as social but we would like to one day have space for a pool table because that will draw the men.”

The seniors do a lot for the community. Currently, a group is crocheting hats to distribute to cancer patients. They have sent 60 hats to Duke University Medical Oncology for cancer patients.

“I am a cancer survivor and I want to do something to give back to the community,” said 66 year-old Lillian Mitchell as she continued crocheting a hat.

“It keeps your mind sharp when you are active,” said 74 year old Florence Conner who loves participating in arts and crafts at the center.

The Northampton County Office on Aging has recently moved into the Northampton Cultural and Wellness Center and is the leading agency for senior services in the county according to Debby Warren, director. Warren said the agency is about 18 years old and is funded by a large Home and Community Block Grant which helps with home delivered meals, as well as provide transportation and fund the J.W. Faison Center. “It's rewarding to help people who need a helping hand,” said Warren.