The Salvation Army Freeport Corps Community Center hosted its unique renaissance fair for local seniors who are a part of their senior program. The community center partnered with nursing students from Molloy University’s Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing to host the interactive event.
The community center, located on Church Street in Freeport, opened its doors to nearly 65 seniors for the afternoon event on Oct. 6. Throughout the fair, seniors took on different chair aerobic exercises, crafts, games and even a pool noodle jousting session. Themed decorations and costumes helped create an even more lively atmosphere for the participants.
The Salvation Army’s community center in Freeport provides a variety of services to seniors and other community members, like its food pantry and free breakfast, that attempts to address community needs. The community center has between 50 and 80 seniors present for different activities each weekday according to Senior Program Director Awilde Rosario.
The renaissance fair event was developed in collaboration with Molloy as a way to get seniors active and get some of the students experience working in a clinical setting by administering tests and short checkups to some of the seniors.
“We’ve had a working relationship with them for many years now, and they send students here as part of their health promotion program where they do blood pressure checks and socialize with the seniors here at the center,” Rosario said. “Last year we did a circus carnival for them, and now this one, the renaissance fair, we want them to engage in different ways, and [that includes] recreation and socialization.”
Some recreational activities included seniors being tasked with catapulting objects into baskets and working together for different craft projects.
Beyond the fun of the event, the afternoon offered a glimpse into the important role the program plays for local seniors. The Salvation Army’s senior program is free to its members, which helps alleviate some of the burdens many residents experience as the cost of living rises on Long Island.
The senior program offers a chance for socialization and physical activity that are especially impactful for those at risk of becoming socially isolated or experiencing deep loneliness. Seniors have a consistent place to gather and build relationships through the community center. The center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on Saturdays.
To learn more about the Freeport Corps Community Center and how to support or participate, please call them at 516-378-4557.
