JACKSON — For 65 cents, participants at the J.W. Faison Senior Center can have a hot meal and good fellowship. And Beatrice Allen of Jackson is grateful for this. “I love it,” Allen said. “It gives me something to do.” She has come to the center since 2006 and said it is a good place to spend time.

(Use arrows above to view more photos) Advertisement

Center Director Rebecca Bayse said the mission is to provide programs or activities to enhance the quality of life for seniors. “We have good participation and I would like to do more,” she said.

The center has been designated by the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services as a “Center of Excellence.”

“It is a very rigorous process and not every center in the state is certified,” Bayse said. “They come in and check everything.”

Out of the 163 senior centers in the state, only 66 are centers of excellence.

It is open to anyone in the area. The main ages served are 55 and up but there are programs for other ages.

Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the facility averages anywhere from 35 to 100 people a day coming from all over Northampton County.

“It depends on what activity is going on,” she said. “We do social, recreation and education activities. We also do parities, assist with Medicare and referrals. Anything we can do to help them with their life.”

Activities during the week include bingo, Bible study and guest speakers. One of the most popular activities is bingo and it takes place once a month.

Bayse said there is a very active card group on Thursday afternoons. “They are very popular,” she said.

A food pantry is available at the center for anyone who has an emergency situation.

The center is also a nutrition site, which offers 1/3 of the daily food allowance. The meals are catered by Hampton Woods. Cost is 65 cents. “But we don’t deny service if someone is unable to pay,” Bayse said.

The participants at the center also give back to the community. A crocheting  group makes hats, lap quilts and bibs for hospitals, nursing homes and hospices. Materials to make them are donated to the center. “They donate their time,” Bayse said.

Sarah Futrell of Rich Square is the instructor for the group. “We love to get here and be together,” she said.

The number in the group varies but it is about eight. One member of the group, Florence Connor, doesn’t crotchet but does embroidery work. “We make them for anyone who needs them,” she said.

Folks also participate in the senior games. The region is made up Northampton, Halifax, Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties. “We had a really good turnout,” Bayse said. The games include not only physical activities, but arts and crafts.

There were first place winners in crochet and photography and a second and two-third places in painting.

For two years, Ollie Williams has been coming three days a week. Williams said she comes to get out of the house. “Bingo is okay,” she said.

Bayse said for a lot of the participants, the center is a social outlet. “For some, it’s their socialization. Without it, they would be at home staring at the four walls,”  she said.

These services are free for participants because the center is a private, non profit. It didn’t receive any funding from the county for this fiscal year. “It’s going to be a difficult year,” she said.

Funding for the center comes from grants, donations and fundraisers. Tax deductible donations can be mailed or brought to the center. “We take donations of any kind,” she said. “If you have something to donate, we will come and pick it up for them.”

Items are sold at a monthly yard sale held on the second Friday of each month. Bayse said, “The yard sales raise a lot of money for us.” There will be a raffle for two crocheted blankets and a doll. Tickets are $1 a piece or six for $5. There is also an ongoing penny drive. The center participants, she said, are the ones who support a lot of the fundraisers.

“It’s hard to keep coming back to them asking for money,” said Bayse, who has been director for six years. “I love my job and I love the people I work with. The only thing I would change would be not having to worry about funding.”

The staff, including Bayse, has two full-time, one part-time and a Title 5 worker. The economy has not only affected their budget and donations, but also attendance at the center as well.

“The price of gas has affected things,” Bayse said. “Depending on where you live in the county makes a difference. The center is in Jackson but some of the county is spread out.”

The participants at the center are very vocal about activities and services. “They will let you know if something is not right or if they like it,” she said.

During budget time for the county, senior participants spoke at the public hearing and wrote letters to commissioners about the funding. “They have been active in advocating,” she said.

Bayse invites area seniors to come out to the center and see what is being offered. “It’s not a bunch of old ladies in wheelchairs,” she said. “It’s fun and fellowship.” She added, if they have a problem, we’ll help them find a solution.

For more information or to make a donation, call 252-534-1012 or send an e-mail to faisonsrcenter@yahoo.com.