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More than a senior center

by MADISON HARDY
Staff Writer | September 5, 2020 1:06 AM

Marlys Silva believes the Lake City Center is more than just your average senior community.

After moving up the ranks from a receptionist in 2019, Silva worked under Lake City Center's previous leader, Bob Small, before becoming director last month.

Silva has spent most of her life in Coeur d'Alene after moving here in 1974. Before delving into her love of working with the elderly, Silva owned a floral business for nearly 10 years.

"I have always really enjoyed working with elderly people," Silva said. "I like that age group. Just being with them and their knowledge, I have a real heart for older people."

Part of her love for the Lake City Center stems from their projects like Meals on Wheels, live concerts, and events that strive to create a healthy experience.

Serving up to 150 homebound and disabled seniors per week, Lake City Center's Meals on Wheels program delivers meals made by their in-house chef and volunteers throughout Coeur d'Alene, Dalton Gardens, and Hayden three days a week.

"It is essential that seniors have a balanced meal, especially because they tend to eat less than others," Silva said.

In her new role, Silva wants to reconnect the center with the community. Silva believes that since Coeur d'Alene is a prime retirement area, there is a bounty of options for the center to create safe and fun activities, not merely for seniors.

"I hope to draw more of the community into the senior center, to pull it together and make it more of a community center," Silva said. "There is a stigma that the center isn't part of the community, but we are trying to show through more of our events and social media that we can offer more to the community."

Starting this month, Lake City Center is hosting the Coeur d'Alene Symphony for free from 1 to 2 p.m. the third Saturday of each month until February.

"I just want people to have a great place to come to instead of feeling lonely," she said. "They can come here and meet new friends."