In the morning, I headed over to the senior center to help serve smoked chicken prepared by one of the local Masons, along with sides made by the staff and volunteers. I usually arrive a little early before lunch is ready, so I can spend time talking with everyone as people settle in. Before the meal begins, everyone gathers for the Pledge of Allegiance and a patriotic song, and then the volunteers begin serving food. Today, we sung The Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Whenever I am there, I usually make my way from table to table, chatting with everyone. I often joke that I only show up for their famous mac & cheese, but everyone there knows I genuinely enjoy spending time with them. Sometimes, before I even have a chance to sit down, someone will already be pulling out a chair at their table, hoping I will join them before eventually making my way around the room to visit others.
Today, cards were already circulating around the room when I arrived for two seniors who had recently passed away. Moments like that are always difficult. Over time, you get to know people. You hear about the falls, memory problems, doctor visits, and health struggles that slowly make everyday life more difficult. Some eventually move closer to family, some enter nursing homes, and some quietly disappear from the tables they once sat at every week.
Near the end of my visit, I was told by some seniors that several who had hoped to join the meal program were turned away due to limited capacity and resources. The conversation around the tables naturally shifted toward concerns about rising costs, fixed incomes, and the difficulty many older residents face.
I normally avoid discussing politics while volunteering. The center exists to support seniors from all walks of life, and I respect that. Still, many of the seniors know that I attend local meetings and occasionally speak during public comment periods about community concerns. Some began to talk about the recent increase in property taxes, the lack of funding for the senior center, and the elimination of taxes at eighty.
Earlier this year, during discussions surrounding the FY 2026–2027 budget (April 14, 2026, timestamp 01:47:52), Supervisor Hugh Henry publicly raised concerns about property tax relief policies for seniors, describing parts of the policy as outdated and expressing interest in exploring possible improvements within state guidelines. He discussed hearing concerns from residents living on fixed incomes and noted that many seniors no longer have the ability to simply work additional hours to keep pace with inflation and rising costs. I even voiced my concerns about the tax increase and the decline in purchasing power due to inflation at that meeting, and later raised concerns about using funds for airport T-Hangar expansion when school roofs were in need of repairs, and the audit had not yet been completed.
I mentioned the board’s comments during my conversation with the seniors and encouraged them to contact their elected representatives directly if they had any concerns or questions. Several at the table encouraged me to continue raising issues publicly, much as I had previously done regarding safety concerns at the building itself.
Last year, the floor tiles at the county-owned building had become a growing hazard. Some sections had started lifting badly enough that even I occasionally stumbled over them. Since falls can be especially dangerous for seniors, they worry many people. Although temporary tape was placed in some areas, the problem continued for quite some time. I eventually began asking questions about the delays and later spoke publicly at meetings (Sep 18, Oct 7, and Oct 21) until repairs were finally scheduled on November 12-14.
Another memory from the center still sticks with me. One afternoon, after most people had already left, a senior experienced a medical emergency. Being one of the few people nearby physically able to help at the time, I assisted as best I could until paramedics arrived. Situations like that remind me how important these places really are. These places are not simply meal sites but community spaces where people look after one another.
What struck me most was the contrast of it all. Cards are being signed for two people who have passed away. New seniors unable to enter the program because of limited resources. Conversations about fixed incomes, rising costs, and uncertainty about the future. Yet despite all of it, there was still laughter around the tables, jokes being shared, and people checking in on one another like extended family.
Sometimes local issues stop feeling abstract when you are sitting across the table from the people affected by them.
One response to “Between Meals and Memories”
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