Senior Center's new manager planning big things for the future

After a recent shake-up that saw the loss of the Wrangell Senior Center's site manager, cook, and driver, the facility is working to get back to its normal routine under the new leadership of Tom Jenkins, the new site manager. The center is still looking for additional staff and volunteers, but there are some big things being planned for the future.

Jenkins is originally from Tennessee, he said, and has a background in industrial building. He worked for the senior center in Haines for three years as a driver and staff member before moving to Wrangell. His interests include music, flying, history, and traveling. He is also a very big fan of author Jane Austen, he said. Jenkins first got involved in senior center work because he said he was wanting to find something useful to do, and has always been involved in projects of a similar nature.

"I've always been involved in Christian ministries and public service," Jenkins said. "In Wrangell there was an opening and I thought it was something I could do in my retirement."

As the new site manager, Jenkins said that his main goal is to get the senior center back to full staff, and to refocus on their core mission of providing meals and transportation to Wrangell's senior citizens, and to provide a fun and healthy environment for people to socialize in. What Jenkins is hoping to see, too, is the senior center really transform into "the funnest senior center in Alaska."

"This isn't a nursing home, this is a senior center for fun and for socializing," Jenkins said. "We want to encourage socializing."

The senior center recently received a piano, donated by Shannon Bosdell of the now-closed Harbor House. Another recent addition to the center that Jenkins pointed out was a computer room where seniors can come by for hour-a-day training on how to use the internet. Other programs that will be coming soon, Jenkins said, include exercise programs, trivia nights, and music sessions, among several other ideas. For all of these future programs to succeed, though, Jenkins said that new staff members, volunteers, and donations are sorely needed.

"Once we get staff we'd look for volunteers to help us serve meals and to bus tables afterwards," he said. "Anyone who knows anything about exercise, like someone who can do stretch or balance exercises, man that would be wonderful ... Anyone that could teach something in art, maybe some sort of art that seniors or anyone else could enjoy, or any kind of music volunteer, would all be things we're looking for."

Besides just donations of time, Jenkins said that there are several items charitable members of the community could consider donating, as well. These items include exercise equipment, bluetooth speakers for music, and a bingo roller.

"We want to be more than just for seniors," Jenkins said. "We want to be doing stuff for the community, too."

For more information regarding the senior center, call (907) 874-2066.