Hayden's senior haven triples in size, rent

HAYDEN — Friends mingle over coffee at tables decorated with fresh flowers and spring green, daisy-printed tablecloths that reflect the welcoming, convivial feeling of the room.

A man reads the newspaper in a cozy chair by the large front windows as a group of ladies shows off pictures of grandchildren and recent exploits of canine companions.

In the kitchen, volunteers are preparing a scratch-made meal to satiate the masses, something delicious like country fried steak or sweet-and-sour pork over rice.

"My wife passed away, and I got tired of cooking my own lunches," said Everett Headrick, 88. "The food’s good. They follow nutritional guidelines. I look forward to a balanced meal when I come here."

Headrick, of Hayden, has been a member of the Hayden Senior Center for several years, though he started to come more after he was on his own.

"It means a lot," he said. "Of course, everybody's different. You pick up new ideas. I'm a gregarious kind of person, anyway."

His hand rested on the handle of his "fighting cane," an interesting piece with a snake carved as the handle set with red gems for eyes. He said that aside from the meals, the main reason he frequents the center is for the Fit and Fall classes, which help protect aging individuals from falling by using strengthening and preventative techniques.

"I recognize that I’ve lost a lot of balance. That's the reason for this cane," he said, patting the handle. "I don't want people to think I'm an easy mark."

Before lunch is served, everyone who is able stands for the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. Cheerful volunteers weave through the packed space to set tables and chat as they lay plates in front of hungry patrons.

“I come here twice a week on the days that they serve lunch,” said Nettie McWhorter, 80, who has been volunteering at the center since 2011. "So many of these people are family to me because I’ve gotten to know them and their families, how many children and grandchildren they have. I love them so much. They count on me being here."

The Hayden Senior Center, in a strip mall at 9428 N. Government Way, opened in 2003. It offers a variety of classes and activities to keep local seniors healthy, active and engaged. Yoga, bingo, cribbage and lunch twice a week are a few of the options, but seniors are more than welcome to just come visit if they feel like getting out of the house. In May, the center recorded 550 visits for activities and exercise and 243 attendees for lunch.

"I like being around people my age,” said Kay Schneider, who has volunteered for about seven years. "It’s just the friends I’ve made here, the people who work here and the people who come and enjoy the place, and the exercise classes and the yoga. It’s just to be around other people."

The center is doing it all in an 1,800-square-foot space, including the kitchen. Board member Katherine Hanna said this small area is noticeably problematic, especially as the number of visitors grows.

"They do marches (during exercise). The hands are out to the side and you’re hitting your knuckles on furniture all the way around,” she said. “We’re stuffed in here."

Center officials are excited to nearly triple the center's size and expand into the neighboring space recently vacated by a thrift store. The construction is expected to be complete sometime in September.

“We’ve exceeded all of last year’s membership," said Lisa Martin, financial controller.

But tripling the space also means tripling the cost — $2,400 will be tacked onto the monthly $1,076 rent.

"We’re not panicked, but we’re concerned," Hanna said. "To increase the number of people that utilize it doesn’t increase our income. They only pay $20 or $25 a year for their membership."

"It’s definitely a service organization, not a revenue organization," Martin said. "We’re really hoping once we get this side up and all squared away that we’ll get like Rotary Clubs that will rent on a regular monthly basis."

The expansion will take the burden off the original space by moving offices and classes while leaving the dining room and lounging area where they are. That means no more breaking down tables and shuffling chairs around every Tuesday and Thursday at lunch.

"We're so excited to have all this room," Hanna said.

To help with costs, the nonprofit Hayden Senior Center will host the first Blue Jean Boogie dinner and dance fundraiser from 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 14 in the Jacklin Building of the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. The 21-and-older evening will include prime rib, salmon and plenty of fixings for dinner, a live auction, DJ, photo booth, paddle raise and dancing into the night. Tickets are $50 each. Sponsor opportunities are available.

Info: www.haydenseniorcenter.org or 208-762-7052