MUNCIE, Ind.- In a building not too far from downtown Muncie, senior citizens are participating in activities and programs for emotional support. The Muncie/Delaware County Senior Citizens Center is facing challenges as federal funding was cut in June. Despite this, the center is pushing for new ways members can get involved.
The Circle of Support is a small group where seniors come together to share life experiences and learn coping skills for struggles such as depression and grief. Ashley Snidera, who founded the group and is also a social worker at the Muncie Police Department, realized the generation needed a connection.
“Working in the community with older adults and all of them having the same conversation with me about feeling depressed,” Snider said. “Not having anyone to connect with, not having anywhere to go.”
The attempt to form a support group first started at the police department until it was clear that it needed to be located somewhere more familiar to the elderly. The center was the solution to this.
“It would be nice to have individuals who are going through this stage of life come together to be able to walk through them together and come up with coping skills and just be able to build those bonds,” Snider said.
Starting four weeks ago, the meetings have made a lasting impact; not just on members, but on Snider herself.
“This has sort of become a self-care for me as well. I really love these women, and right now we only have women in this group,” said Snider.
Currently, the group is composed of only women, though the hope is to welcome new participants.
The Senior Center is in need of new volunteers, more specifically, college students willing to teach a course on using cell phones, and an experienced individual to start up and manage the secondhand store located within the center. Executive Director Julie Mears expressed that operations have been slowing down at the center ever since losing five employees due to federal budget cuts.
If you’re interested in volunteering or becoming a member, you can visit the Muncie/Delaware County Senior Citizens Center’s Facebook page.
Contact Allison Branecki with comments at allison.branecki@bsu.edu.
