By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

Five years ago, a focus group was put together to develop ideas on how to better serve the needs of seniors throughout the local community. Today, those ideas have evolved into the Senior Ministry Center at Saint Peter’s in Merchantville, a day center dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors by providing meaningful and interactive spiritual, social and intergenerational experiences that allow them to prosper and grow.

“The largest motivating factor for seniors coming to the center is socialization. To have a need and a purpose. For somebody to care for them,” explains Bobbie Bradley, director of the Senior Ministry Center. “They really don’t want to just be behind four walls. They want to engage with peers to share common factors, and just to express themselves in a very supportive environment.”

The Senior Ministry Center offers daily activities free of charge to attendees, including continental breakfast from their café; exercise programs like “fit and focused with Rossana;” trivia and board games; and more. There are also spiritual programs that attendees can take advantage of, such as the recitation of the rosary and morning prayer.

“Most things are handled here in a consensus format, so our seniors are very involved in the activities and the programs that they partake in,” adds Bradley.

The Senior Ministry Center has seen significant growth since its inception. There’s a volunteer staff of 25, as well as a director of culinary services who does all of the meal planning and preparation.

“One of the prerequisites for everyone who works or volunteers at the Senior Ministry is to really care and love a senior. So there’s a lot of hugging that goes on during the day, and just a lot of support,” says Bradley. “A lot of our seniors, even if they have family, don’t have any one to really listen to them and really spend the time with them. So that is something that we really pride ourselves on.”

To celebrate the success of the center, as well as to raise funds to help maintain the program’s future, the Senior Ministry Center at St. Peter’s is holding a special “A Work of Love” gala on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Pennsauken Country Club. This semi formal fundraising event will benefit all of the seniors who attend the center.

“We’re really, really excited,” says Bradley. “Our seniors want to be such a presence at that gala to show people the important work being done and the need for financial support to keep this going.”

To purchase tickets or for more information about the upcoming gala, contact Bobbie Bradley at (856) 662-7577 or e-mail stpeterseniorgala@gmail.com.