Kindle gives brief history on Senior Center

On Saturday, August 17, the Malta Senior Center celebrated 50 years of service to the Phillips County Area.

Though the non-profit organization opened it’s doors in 1969, the Senior Center has been been at the old USDA building located at 110 South Street West since 1996. It was before then that the Malta Senior Center was held at the Moose Hall building east of the old Malta Post Office (currently the back room of Stretch’s).

“It was really big back then,” said Sharon Kindle, Manager at the Malta Senior Center. “They did dances and when they came over here and it just kind of evolves into playing just cards. I don’t know why.”

Kindle went on to say that her father was a big fan of the dances held back then. Despite the change in activity, Kindle went on to say that she was proud that the center was still thriving in Malta at 50 years.

Despite the crew having medical issues throughout the years, Kindle was proud that they have been able to hold get-togethers this summer.

“I just thought that the Center was something that needs to be adhered to, kept active and approved upon,” Kindle said.

The latest improvements to the Senior Center have been windows, as the non-profit has been able to replace two windows, with five more on the way. The kitchen and bathroom have also been redone this year.

“We also put tile down in the entryway because the old tile was so bad; it was chipped up,” Kindle said. “For that we had no grant. We had a grant for the furnace. It was a $5,000 furnace that we got for $1,000. Grants can be found if you look.”

The Senior Center holds weekly card games on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Hearing Institute comes by once a month. Bingo starts this October.

“That is exciting because we haven’t had Bingo in two or three years,” Kindle said. “Our Bingo players died off unfortunately. But it’s just a down home atmosphere here.”

Membership to the Senior Center is $15 a year. To make a donation call the Senior Center at 654-1235.