Having somewhere to go makes a huge difference for the seniors who turn out to the Pilot Point Community Center each week.
Whether it's the three-times-a-week exercise class, game days, congregate meals through Meals on Wheels or special events, the programming at the center gives its patrons something to look forward to and friends to check in on.
'A lot of us are widows and live by ourselves, so we get to visit with ladies,' Faye Goode said. 'We talk about our cars that are broke down and anything. 'How do you fix this?' So, it means a great deal.'
Goode, who lives in the Providence Village area, makes her way to the center regularly, crediting the commute with helping her retain her driving skills.
'It kind of started some of this after the virus, that people were spending too much time [alone],' she said.
Goode's part of the group regularly plays Hand and Foot.
On Tuesday morning, they were seated next to the dominos players who come in weekly to play together.
Unless she has a doctor's appointment or a funeral to attend, Goode is at the center every day it's open.
'They have [the exercise class] offered here three times a week, and my body says two times,' Goode said, chuckling.
For Meals on Wheels site manager Carolyn Fraser, it means a great deal to be able to facilitate the congregate meals and to coordinate the volunteers who deliver meals to seniors at their homes.
'It's absolutely a wonderful facility to do both of those,' she said. 'And it was so much fun yesterday. We had seven, eight people eating congregate, and they were all crowded around this little round table in here. Good time. They were really enjoying it.'
If someone wants to join the congregate meals, they can tell Fraser by 11 the morning before so that she can order enough food from Fort Worth for the group.
The fitness classes, led by Hallie Crawford with Kainos Community CrossFit, are the biggest draw week after week, with about 30 participants each class.
Yvonne Flippen, along with her colleague Justin Davies with Humana, offered a veteran's breakfast Tuesday morning at the center, saying that 'every town should have one' like Pilot Point's.
'There's so many people who are shut in, and it's an outlet for them to come and stay in connection with people and not be isolated,' Flippen said.
Jennifer Neal, who is the city staff member tasked with operating the center throughout the day, loves giving the seniors a place to go.
'The community center was run by volunteers for about two years, and then the city just saw the need to put a city employee here, and so I transitioned over from the library to come here and just help facilitate it and hold it open,' Neal said. 'And that way the volunteers could just be patrons and enjoy community with one another.'
Connection is the biggest takeaway.
'It's a lot of community and taking care of one another,' Neal said of her patrons.
