“A symbol of care, connection and community” is how Sumter YMCA Board Chairwoman Selena Ruth Smith described the new YMCA Senior Center during her invocation prayer at its ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony Monday.

And that is how many local leaders and seniors describe the facility addition that will provide a daily outlet for all area seniors from loneliness and isolation with activities and fellowship opportunities and which is the first designated YMCA Senior Center in the state.

The 5,800 square-foot center — which is two stories and includes an elevator — was a little more than a year in construction and includes a reading room for just that, puzzles, music, checkers and chess, and a classroom/conference room for small group meetings, Bible studies, education classes, movies, arts and crafts, book club, quilting and more.

Those rooms are both upstairs and next to a full catering kitchen for meal preparations and that will offer nutrition education, cooking lessons, recipe sharing and daily coffee, according to YMCA CEO Missy Corrigan.

Downstairs is a large multipurpose room for other senior activities to include parties and celebrations.

Previously, Corrigan said, the YMCA had to find available space on site for senior programs — such as its lower gym — but now the new center is “dedicated space” just for them that is also more conducive for their activities.

The senior center’s hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., open to anyone 50 and older and offers a place for seniors “to come and hang out and just feel seen and heard,” even if they do not feel like socializing, she added.

“Our vision is seniors will come here every day and want to just hang out,” Corrigan said. “There are games to play, meet your friends over here, read together, watch a movie together and have conversations. Our goal is for them to get that face-to-face interaction, instead of staring at a screen or sitting at home alone.”

THE VISION AND HOW TO REGISTER?

According to Corrigan, the vision for the new senior center arose in 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic when YMCA staff realized its members who were seniors were struggling with loneliness and social isolation, whether it was fear of leaving the home or a loss of loved ones.

“There was a lack of connection and that really is what sparked the drive and desire for us to build this center,” she said.

Additionally, a lot of the YMCA’s senior programs had to get moved or cancelled during the summer months to accommodate the influx of kids for youth summer camps, Corrigan added.

Anyone 50 and older can use the center — a local YMCA membership is not required — but they must register first in the main entrance lobby area at the front of the YMCA to have their profile set up in the agency’s system for clearance, she said

Even seniors who are YMCA members must register initially to gain access to the center.

The senior center is in the back, rear of the YMCA facility and its entrance doors are always locked for safety purposes, Corrigan added. When seniors ring the doorbell, video conferencing comes up in a small office area to the new facility and people’s names are checked against the center’s roster.

MORE ON CENTER

The senior center was funded in part by $750,000 in state appropriations a few years ago that the Sumter County Legislative Delegation helped secure. Those delegation members included House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter, and former Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, according to Corrigan.

Two local foundations, the Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust and the CP Legacy Foundation of Sumter, provided additional financial support. Also, individual donors contributed in the process. Collectively, $2.1 million was obtained, which is basically $100,000 more than the facility construction costs, she said. That extra funding will go toward operational expenses moving forward.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place before Monday’s grand opening, and Smith, local donors and other officials attended.

Previously, YMCA senior programs were open to all seniors in the community, but Corrigan said she thinks the dedicated center will now draw in more seniors, given more targeted outreach and other efforts.

She did add that the center is not a drop-off daycare for the elderly and seniors must be able to get around independently. If people have questions in this regard, they can call the YMCA, Corrigan added.

On Monday, senior Emily Boykin said that she has been involved with YMCA senior programs for at least 10 years and added that she was “very excited with the new center.” Boykin said she thinks that seniors are an important part of the YMCA.

Fellow-senior Gracie Holmes has only been a part of YMCA senior programs for a couple of years, but she added she thinks the senior center represents a good opportunity for the community at large.

“When people come, they can check it out and they will have a great time meeting new people because everyone is so friendly here,” Holmes said. “I believe, it’s more like a social gathering place for people who are lonely. The games are fun and so far I have enjoyed meeting new people and forming friendships with them.”

Since the center closes at 4 p.m., Corrigan added that the multipurpose room, kitchen and conference room are available for after-hour rentals for parties or gatherings.

The architect for the project was Jackson and Sims, Architects, and the builder was by Hawkins and Kolb Construction Co.