Editor,

For the 17 years I have lived in Lower Village near The Center, I smugly drove past it assuming it was simply a place where elderly women and a few men gathered to play cards and socialize. I would drop by for Christmas Prelude to see the craft fair, but not much more. Little did I realize that The Center actually catered to those 50 and above!

It was not until a year ago that I fully understood and appreciated what The Center had to offer. I required a heart procedure while my husband was in hospice, most friends were away for the winter, my neighbors worked, and I was not permitted to drive. My neighbor Carol Bousquet who works at The Center arranged transportation to and from the hospital through the Center’s FISH (Friends in Service Helping Humanity) program. I offered my pleasant, friendly driver some money and he refused, saying it was his pleasure to help me out.

After my husband passed away, I was quite lost and again Ms. Bousquet told me I should attend The Center’s Grief Group. It consisted of a number of men and women who were recently widowed and an exceptional facilitator named Carol MacLeod who helped each of us explore and deal with our feelings. The offshoot of this caring group is the social gatherings, advice, and sharing we have all experienced.

As a new member of the Board for The Center I continue to be astounded by the range of programs offered through this non-profit organization. The range includes supportive services such as receiving Tender Loving Calls (TLC), obtaining legal help, and navigating Medicare, to social programs such as book clubs, luncheons, and art classes. There are health classes for knee pain and learning about therapy dogs, and gatherings such as Kaffee Klatsch. Annual events such as the Road Race, the Auction, and the Kitchen Tour raise funds to support The Center.

Those who use The Center are happy, engaged, purposeful, and extremely grateful. Everyone is treated with dignity, respect, and the hand of friendship and care. As our communities age and as more retirees move into the area, The Center will need to continue to grow. It cannot just expand without receiving the help from the communities, its businesses, and its citizens. I hope you will check out The Center and see if it offers something you or someone you know might enjoy. I also hope you and others will support this very worthwhile organization. Forewarning: if you drop by, be prepared to hear a great deal laughter when you enter!

Diane Denk

Kennebunk