Shattering misconceptions: Centertown Sister Act participants get first-hand look at Senior Center

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard

At the Senior Center, John Womack shares the finer points of playing pool as Sister Act guest Abby Nunley takes aim with the cue stick.

Some misconceptions on the part of sixth and seventh-grade girls were squelched when Centertown Sister Act recently visited the Senior Center for an intergenerational experience.

The 35 members and their sponsor, Kim Curtis, arrived at the center via school bus. They were paired with some of the senior adults to discover the many changes in lifestyles of youth and the vast differences in attending school, then and now.

The young attendees joined in an exercise session, cake walk, auction, games of Bingo and learned to play pool. They were invited to partake of a barbecue lunch with the seniors contributing additional dishes of food.

Rather than making the field trip to sit awhile with their elders, Sister Act girls quickly realized seniors at the center are active members of the community, and humorous in the stories they had to share.

When one girl referred to the center as a “nursing home,” an adult was quick to point out the difference. She was told that the seniors relate to the Senior Center the same way young people relate to the Civic Center – a place to socialize with your peers, exercise, enjoy fun and games, and for special programs and celebrations.

Upon departure, the girls were presented beauty kits containing such items as chap stick, fingernail polish and information about the Senior Center.