A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning celebrated the reopening of the Carlsbad Senior Center for the first time in more than a year.
City and senior center staff were present at the ceremony commemorating staff and volunteers for their work during the pandemic, making meals for seniors even while the center was closed to visitors.
“Once we had to shut the center down, volunteers under the leadership of Kyle Lancaster ended up pulling together and delivering a whopping 61,000 meals during the COVID crisis,” Carlsbad City Councilmember Cori Schumacher said.
The center plans to continue the project even as the senior center reopens.
Patricia Mehan, the center’s senior commissioner, had the honor of cutting the ribbon for the center's official reopening following the pandemic.
“The senior center is very special to everyone in this community. It has many programs for everyone,” she said.
Mehan has been going to the Senior Center since it opened and said interaction with others is what she missed the most.
“I think the social part, seeing people," she said. "I think that's very important for older people, especially to be able to communicate with others."
Mehan’s husband, Sherman DeForest, teaches a tech class offered at the senior center.
“People have Apples (Apple products), they have laptops, they have whatever ... and they come to us because their grandchildren can't always show them how to do things," he said.
The senior center will now hold in person bingo, a variety of classes, and lunch.
Virtual classes will also be kept as part of the center's programs, giving seniors hybrid options.
