For seniors in Central Minnesota looking to enhance or fulfill their golden years, check out the following amenities from the Becker, Big Lake, Clear Lake and Clearwater communities.
Becker
Becker, of course, has a dynamic senior center that meets in the community center in a dedicated room. The group is called, BASC (Becker Area Senior Center) and it is open to all residents age 55 and older living in the area.
BASC is a volunteer organization providing seniors with a place to socialize, exercise and share their interests. Many educational events, musicians, movies and other activities are offered on a regular basis for all to enjoy.
For more information, email questions to: BASC.Becker@gmail.com or call the Becker Community Center at 763-200-4271. Or visit the BCC website at: www.beckercommunitycenter.com.
For other areas of interest, seniors can seek out receiving aid or volunteering at local organizations like Great River Faith in Action, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, the Becker Food Shelf or the Becker Lions Club. There is also a Becker Hearts & Hands Quilt Guild, Becker AA, the American Legion, the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and a dementia support group.
Big Lake
In Big Lake, seniors are encouraged to participate in numerous organizations and clubs including, Moms in Prayer, Rivers of Hope, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, the American Legion and Auxiliary, Big Lake Lions, AA Meetings, Living with Parkinson’s Under the Age of 65, the Big Lake Community Gardens and the Big Lake Women of Today.
Big Lake also has a Senior Club where the group meets at city hall. They have kitchen facilities, dining tables & chairs and they meet every Tuesday to socialize and play cards from 1-4 p.m. If interested, contact Vivian Straw at 763-309-1010.
The Big Lake Library and Big Lake Food Shelf are also great places to volunteer or ask for assistance in your later life.
Clear Lake/
Clearwater
The Clear Lake, Clearwater area has a great senior program called, Central Minnesota Foster Grandparent Program (CMFGP). There, they allow children and seniors to mutually benefit from and intergenerational relationship. Senior volunteers aged 55 and up volunteer to contribute to their community by mentoring children in 100+ nonprofit volunteer sites across Central Minnesota. Foster grandparents volunteer a minimum of 15 hours per week with many volunteering for up to 40 hours a week.
Annually, Foster Grandparents serve 8,000 children for a total of 180,000 hours of service.
To volunteer of gain more information, call the CMFGP at 320-229-4587.
Catholic Charities has senior dining sites throughout Central Minnesota including sites in Becker (Woodbriar Apartments), Annandale (City Hall), Buffalo (Community Center), Maple Lake (Maple Manor West Apartments), Monticello (Senior Center) and St. Cloud (Whitney Senior Center).
The Clear Lake/Clearwater area also features a brand new Food Shelf facility (located across the street from the original location, at 1135 Co. Road 75 in Clearwater).
The Library is located at 740 Clearwater Center providing residents with books, magazines, newspapers and videos.
So for seniors looking to stay active, find friends, get out of the house and/or start feeling fulfilled, start checking out organizations and events right here in your backyards. It’ll raise your spirits guaranteed!
