O'Fallon Senior Center Offers Adults Fun Activities, Healthy Meals

Lois Vitale visits friends and plays games at the O’Fallon Senior Center five days a week.

She said she’s been coming to the center located at 106 N Main St., for nearly five years.

“I have people to talk to and wait on them if they can’t take care of themselves,” she said.

Her favorite activity is Bingo, which she helps run, by calling out the combinations and going to the dollar store to buy prizes for Fridays.

“It occupies your time,” Vitale added. “Some of these people sit at home alone, looking out the window—I don’t know how they do it.”

Jean Hancock started as a volunteer at the center 18-years-ago when it was located on Elm Street.

She said she started coming because her husband Bill liked playing pool. But since Bill passed away, the center became more like second home.

“You get lonesome when you’re partner dies,” Hancock said. “ I just feel like all these friends are part of my family. I miss seeing them when I’m sick and have to miss coming.”

Hancock said she is thankful local seniors have a place to come and socialize and many regulars agreed.

The O'Fallon Senior Center is a community resource that offers local senior citizens a wide variety of programs and services, including nutritious meals, educational and recreational programs and exercise.

The Mid-East Area Agency on Aging funds the program, through state and federal grants.

The City of O’Fallon helps maintain the building and keep it clean.

The Senior Center is open to adults age 60 and older, who are able to take care of themselves. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a $3.25 donation and includes an entrée, two vegetables, a dessert, milk and bread.

Senior Center Administrator Patricia Duncan said an average of 300 people a week come to the center for lunch and to hang out with friends.

“This is their home, you know, they get to a certain age and they look for something else to do in their life, and they get attached,” she said. “I have a lot of them that come and they’re out there at 8:30 a.m. waiting for the doors to open—the pool players especially.”  

Some seniors come to play pool, Bingo, Bridge, Farkle, Bunco or wii. Others come to eat lunch, socialize or exercise.

The free exercise room features low impact work out equipment for the legs, shoulders and waist, Duncan said the O’Fallon Fire Department , route: {:controller=>"listings", :action=>"show", :id=>"ofallon-fire-protection-district"} -->recently