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Captain Aaron Hawley Playing Checkers with
a senior
A senior shows off her apartment at
William Booth Garden Apartments, an affordable living option for
seniors living on a fixed income.
Seniors playing dominos at The Salvation
Army Aldine Westfield Facility. |
Faced with the somber reality
of not having enough savings in their retirement funds, many
local seniors are finding their golden years aren’t so bright
after all. Those with family willing to take them in are forced
into less than desirable retirement situations, often having to
share their living quarters with that of their children’s
growing and busy families.
Some might say they are the
lucky ones.
Others who don’t have anyone
to turn to or whose families have abandoned them completely are
left to fend for themselves in a world where they are not always
appreciated. Officers and staff at The Salvation Army Greater
Houston Area Command know their predicament well. They are among
the few organizations in the local region that cater to the
needs of this community.
“These are the men and women
that shaped our future and who brought us to where we are today
as a society. It’s so sad to see that too often their
contributions are forgotten and that even their own families
sometimes turn their backs on them,” says Captain Roman Leal,
head of The Salvation Army Irvington Corps Community Center.
“When they come here, age becomes insignificant. They are so
happy to be among their peers that it’s like having a building
full of teenagers.”
Leal’s corps community center is located next to The Salvation
Army’s William Booth Garden Apartments – one of two affordable
living complexes offered by the nonprofit organization – and
runs a daily senior program for residents in the neighboring
area. Most of the organization’s five other community centers
also offer senior programs during the day; some even deliver
weekly meals to homebound individuals.
Senior program participants
arrive in the early morning for a hearty breakfast, followed by
a round of activities and socializing, after which they are
served a well-balanced lunch meal, before heading home. On
special occasions like Valentine’s Day, birthdays and Christmas,
they plan parties and use the community centers as venues for
their celebrations.
“Our seniors are very
fortunate to have the Irvington Corps Community Center in their
backyard,” notes Mary McElhanon, director of The Salvation
Army’s William Booth Garden Apartments. “If you stop by here
during the day you will always see our building is empty. That
is because our seniors are out there living their lives –
working, socializing, raising their grandchildren, and doing
whatever they want to do.”
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