BOISE-- The new Meridian Senior Center is the latest form of generosity from the Julius M. Kleiner Trust. The trust has already donated 16 million dollars - as well as 60 acres of land for the new memorial park that's set to open in two weeks. Officials with the new center say the building is a vital addition to the senior community.
The new center is inside the Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park. It's a 13,800 square foot facility. The president of the Meridian Senior Center says they outgrew their old building years ago. They say with the new facility and more space, they can now do more to keep seniors active.
If I didn't have this place to come to, I would sit home, and literally, go...'I would die.' said Fay Olesko
Olesko is a disabled senior. She's been coming to the Meridian Senior Center since 2007. The center keeps her feeling alive.
I would sit home all the time, watching TV, that's all I could do. said Olesko
She's one of the hundreds of seniors and community members who came out to the ribbon cutting Friday for the new Meridian Senior Center. The center is located inside of Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park.
Pauline Lough is President of the center. She hopes it will be an important resource to people like Olesko.
You know the perception of a senior center, it's just old, old old people, but that's not true anymore. We have a lot of older people that are still very active, and this provides them a place in their own age group and to be out and to be active said Lough.
Lough says the old building was too small. It held them back from having more activities. Now with more space, seniors will have more options.
We have an exercise room. We have an arts and craft room. We have a cards and game room. We have a resource room, and a little sooner, we'll have computers in there, available for them. We have a library, said Lough
Lough says the center also has pool tables and a thrift shop. The center plans to hold health screenings, bingo nights, and exercise classes.
The cost to be a member is $5 for the entire year.
