User-Friendly : The Fillmore Senior Center, staffed mainly by volunteers, provides a wealth of services for seniors in the community.

Many older adults are still unaware of the services and referral resources provided by their local senior center. So today’s profile of the Fillmore Senior Center begins an occasional series highlighting the programs of each center in the county.

The center is a nonprofit social service center for senior citizens. Like other centers, it exists to help the elderly with their physical and social needs. There are no dues or membership fees required to participate in the wide range of activities and classes offered. But some donations are suggested, as in the case of hot lunches.

The center was established in 1979 with grant and bond money generated to buy and renovate the 6,500-square-foot building. The center receives some funds from the city and United Way. But most support comes from local fund raising, donations and community service organizations, which often provide needed equipment.

There are only two full-time paid staff members--Ruth Parten, the center’s 63-year-old director, and Dorla Turner, 61, its fiscal coordinator. But together with 40 volunteers, they serve more than 3,000 seniors a year. And they embody Parten’s motto, which hangs on the wall: “Older Americans Working Together to HELP Each Other.”

Despite pervasive budget restrictions, volunteers provide a number of invaluable services and programs for seniors. But the center can always use more volunteers as well as donated goods.

“We have different needs and older seniors,” said Parten. They start at age 60, but most are 75 and older. “Most of our seniors are on a fixed income and are not as affluent as Ojai seniors, for example.”

Furthermore, 40% of the seniors served by the center are Hispanic, Turner said. And the traditional and economic roles these seniors play as child-care providers for their working families often prevent them from attending center events, Turner said.

As a result, the center has a weekly Brown Bag food distribution program for eligible seniors. It also sponsors monthly Foodshare commodity distribution for all ages. Other programs include Meals-On-Wheels delivery, hot lunches at the center, outreach programs and transportation by appointment to medical exams or the grocery store. Parten encouraged seniors to contact her about forming a bereavement group.

The center also has people to provide help with letter-writing and filling out social security, insurance and renters’ and homeowners’ tax-rebate forms. Grey Law (free senior legal consultation), a health clinic and hearing and blood pressure testing are also available, as well as the loan of medical equipment (crutches, canes, wheelchairs). A reading machine for low-vision enhancement is available for use at the center.

There are also regular exercise and arts-and-crafts classes, as well as the occasional “55 Alive” older drivers’ training classroom course sponsored by the American Assn. of Retired Persons.

Seniors can also take advantage of social and leisure activities including excursions, bingo, potluck and holiday parties. Visitors are welcome to use the TV and library areas. Or they can join a game of billiards or cards. A piano and organ are there for sing-a-longs. But due to the advanced age of the center’s participants, most do not dance. And unlike some other senior centers, Fillmore does not sponsor formal dances.

The center is seeking volunteer drivers and trucks to haul weekly food supplies from Oxnard, walking canes and wheelchairs to loan, a card table, craft instructors and people with repair, clerical, entertainment, professional or receptionist skills.

FYI

The Fillmore Senior Center, 533 Santa Clara St. in Fillmore, is open Mondays through Fridays 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Information about the center’s activities and special events are printed on Thursdays in the Fillmore newspapers “Senior News” section. Monthly schedules are available at the center. To contact the center, call 524-4533. Hot meals are served at the center weekdays noon-1 p.m., $1.75 donation suggested. To request a delivery of Meals-On-Wheels, call 524-3756.