COVID Testing - We are no longer doing COVID testing at the Senior center. If you would like a COVID test, you can visit the Westerly Police station. Their normal hours for testing are Monday - Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM. They are not doing testing on holidays.
Daily Meals - Our Mealsite continues to offer meals for pick-up each day (Monday through Friday). Unfortunately, we are not provided with a menu to publish in advance, but we do have a weekly menu that is published in the Sunday edition of the Westerly Sun each week. The meal program continues with a $3 suggested donation. For information on these meals, call Edie at 596-7216. Additionally, the Town has been working with URI to distribute warm meals once a week (Fridays) to area seniors. These meals can be delivered or picked up and can be ordered online at www.westerlyri.gov/meal or by calling the Center at 596-2404.
Transportation - We continue to operate the Town's transportation program each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to take people to local grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, etc… (limit four passengers at any given time). Westerly residents may call Edie at 596-7216 to make reservations.
Social Services - Our Community Information Specialist, Nichole, continues to work fulltime to help people with a wide range of social service issues (health insurance, housing, fuel assistance, medical bills, and other issues to help you maintain your physical and mental health). Nichole has also been telephoning all of our Senior Center members to check on how you are doing and to see if we can assist you in any way (have you received a call?) To speak to Nichole, you may call the front office at 596-2404 and request a call back.
The staff also continues to do a thorough cleaning of the facility, and we have made some big changes to areas such as the craft room to prepare for renovations and improvements to the Center facility in the upcoming months. We truly look forward to seeing you and your fellow members back at the Center as soon as safety allows it. Please know that we are still here for you, and stay healthy and safe.
T he mission of the Westerly Senior Citizens Center is to provide opportunity for the "young at heart" to meet and enjoy a wide variety of social, educational, health, and recreational activities and programs and to promote the positive aspects of aging to them, their families, and the community at large.
The Westerly Senior Citizens Center was established with Articles of Association through the Rhode Island Secretary of State's Office in January of 1982 and soon thereafter was awarded 501 C-3 nonprofit status through the Federal IRS.
The Senior Center is overseen by a nine-member Board of Directors, which is drawn from and elected by the general membership and which has hired an Executive Director to supervise the daily operation of the Center.
The Center services the seniors of the Town of Westerly. According to the 2000 Census, Westerly has a total population of 22,966 with 6,091, or approximately 26.5% of the population over the age of 55. Paid membership ($25 per year) of the Westerly Senior Citizens Center (which is not limited to Westerly residents) at the end of 2001 had risen to over 1500. Approximately 85% of the members reside in Westerly. Members range from age 50 to over 100 years old. Not surprisingly, approximately two-thirds of our membership is female and one-third is male.
According to Senior Center records, the Center services over 3500 individual clients on a yearly basis and an average of 310 persons daily. These services include participation in daily and special activities, health clinics, direct services, special programs, day and overnight trips, etc. Membership is not required for many of the direct services and special activities, especially the Meal site program and those offered by the Social Services Department.
We like to think that the Senior Center, despite being an autonomous, nonprofit agency has become an integral part of the community. Our commitment is to be open to serving all of the seniors in the Westerly area, whether or not they are members. The Center is a wonderful place to make new friends, enjoy a delicious hot meal, learn a new skill, take a day trip, volunteer, and / or partake of the wide variety of activities offered. Come join us!
The Westerly Senior Citizens Center is accredited by The National Institute of Senior Centers.