A community nonprofit has kickstarted a series of programs in March aimed at enriching life for Lakeland seniors.
Lakeland Senior Hub Inc. has launched a series of events aimed at providing education and enrichment for the city’s 55 and older community, despite not yet having a building to call home.
“Right now it’s no walls, but we are hard working on that,” said Anne Marie Russell, the nonprofit’s new executive director.
On March 4, Lakeland Senior Hub started off by offering a morning walk for seniors at the Bob Adams Family Community YMCA, 3700 Cleveland Heights Blvd. The group walked to Peterson Park, with a stretch session at 9:30 a.m. before walking back to the YMCA.
Russell, formerly a wellness coordinator with Health Stat for City of Lakeland employees, said the walk is one way of bringing people together. Another community event is offered Mondays at 8:30 a.m. around Lake Morton. It’s followed by a community music program starting at 10 a.m. at the Lakeland Public Library’s Lake Morton branch.
The nonprofit has started hosting programs for seniors despite not having a building to call home. Don Selvage, a former Lakeland commissioner and now president of Lakeland Senior Hub’s board, said the nonprofit’s overall vision remains unchanged.
“We believe a senior hub is necessary for a city of this size, where over 30% is seniors age 55 or older,” Selvage said. “We need a senior center to be a gathering spot for seniors. Social isolation remains a tremendous challenge in the elderly. We hope to have a spot where people can come, mingle, have programs and be referred to the resources they need.”
The nonprofit approached the City Commission asking for $300,0000 to launch a local senior center in July 2024. Lakeland officials offered up to a $100,000 match grant, matching dollar for dollar what the organization could fundraise in 2025.
Lakeland Senior Hub managed to raise enough to secure the $100,000 match from the city, and more, Selvage said. Yet, it wasn’t enough to secure a future home for the organization.
“We are going to get this started, generate the grass-roots support to lease a building and establish Lakeland Senior Hub,” he said.
Russell was hired as the organization’s executive director in January. She helped coordinate a public launch event on Feb. 25 that was attended by approximately 100 people. Russell said many represented other organizations providing services for seniors in the Lakeland area.
The goal is for Lakeland Senior Hub to work with these organizations in a “hub-and-spoke” model to be able to refer senior citizens to programs or services they may need.
“It’s all about empowering seniors,” she said. “A lot of seniors don’t even know what’s here in Lakeland.”
To educate seniors, Lakeland Senior Hub is launching a series of “Lunch and Learns” with its corporate sponsor Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital. Its first event will be March 18 from 2 to 4 p.m., at Cleveland Heights Golf Club. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will be sharing the latest news as AARP’s Bob Busch talks about the latest AI scams and trends targeting seniors.
Russell said her goal is to host the nonprofit’s events in different locations across Lakeland, bringing awareness and support to its long-term aim.
“People in the community will see what we are trying to do and space will become available,” she said.
Lakeland Senior Hub continues to have a team of volunteers who are searching for a permanent site to host the organization, working with local realtors and landlords. Russell said she is in the process of planning another community information event for April, with the aim of holding a fundraising event in May.
“We want to keep seniors stimulated and show them they are a vital part of our community,” she said. “They are the cornerstone of our community, it’s foundation.”
Donations can be made to Lakeland Senior Hub at via mail at: Lakeland Senior Hub, Inc., P.O. Box 2074, Lakeland, FL 33806.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland Senior Hub launches activities while seeking a permanent home
Reporting by Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
