Craft sessions fill senior center with fall spirit
CHICORA — Connie Collier glued glitter orange and pumpkin-colored paper tabs around a cardboard circle until they formed the shape of a wreath.
“Every one is different,” Collier said as she held up her fall wreath that was adorned with a purple bow. “I felt like I accomplished something.”
Eight seniors created a paper craft wreath at the Chicora Senior Center at 117 W. Slippery Rock St. last week in the spirit of Halloween and all things fall.
Seniors can get out of the house and build friendships at the craft sessions, said Krissy Funkhouser, who has worked with seniors for 24 years and has been the Chicora Senior Center manager for two years.
Craft kits contained the supplies for the wreaths, including construction paper and varieties of colorful ribbon, that were put together by Marie Geibel, Chicora Senior Center assistant manager.
The origin for a craft day was inspired by construction paper, glue and scissors, which are all supplies the seniors had when growing up, she said.
“I feel sometimes that the senior citizens get lost,” Geibel said. “We need more and more things for senior citizens to keep them ambulatory. The more ambulatory they are, the longer they'll live and the more fun they'll have.”Geibel began the craft sessions when she started working at the center three months ago. In November, the center will offer another craft session to make greeting cards.“A lot of people have arthritis, and if you're moving your fingers, if you're moving your arms, it is actually therapy not only for your mind, but your body,” she said.A meal, fellowship and care are offered at the center, she said.“You don't want anyone to be lonely in the house,” she said. “Being lonely is really, really hard.”Collier decorates the center for the holidays, she said.Without the center, Collier said she would feel lost.“We are like family,” she said. “It's a family.”
