Two elderly friends take part in a fall activity during Seniors Day Out at Trinity UMC. || Photo provided by Tisha Gribble
Seniors Day Out Gets Older Citizens Up and About By Sam Pierce Featured Contributor,
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incidentals.” @sjamespierce
he older we get, the more we convert back to our younger selves. At least, that’s the thought behind the Seniors Day Out program at Trinity United Methodist Church in Little Rock.
“It is the little things that make them happy,” said volunteer Jenny Sweatland. “They really enjoy Christmas and Santa Claus. We bring in a Santa and everybody brings a gift, and Santa gives each one a gift — we also do a group picture.”
Every Thursday, the church hosts the social event that features speakers, BINGO, bean-bag baseball and other activities. Sweatland serves as the programs’ activities director. “It has been very beneficial,” she said. “We have some seniors that this is the only time they go anywhere during the week. “They don’t have very close family so their big day out is with the Senior Day Out program or going down to the Dollar General. I have seen a lot of happiness coming with us once a week.”
Sweatland has been a volunteer for Seniors Day Out for about seven years. But this is the first year that the program has been held at Trinity UMC.
“…Trinity was good enough to open their arms and allow us to meet in their building,” Sweatland said. “It just brings me a lot of joy.”
“It is a program that was formally held for many years at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock, but they discontinued it,” said Tisha Gribble, the head organizer for Seniors Day Out. “I knew about the program, and I recruited some of my friends to be volunteers.
Sweatland manages all of the functions, including making sure the breakfast is ready.
“It is a volunteer-driven program with people who were involved at the camp, but the church is providing the facility and all the 13
“I’m doing their activities for the day, whether it be crafts or volleyball or bean bag baseball,” Sweatland said. “I am the one that makes sure they are moving and not just sitting.
ARKANSAS UNITED METHODIST
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