This past Saturday, the Pampa Senior Citizens Center celebrated 70 years of providing a place where seniors can come together, socialize, and make new friends, with a hot lunch prepared daily for folks of all ages.
Many of Pampa’s finest food trucks, vendors, and organizations came out to celebrate under the colorfully decorated establishment, courtesy of WK Partyology.
A vast collection of newspaper clippings, photos, and letters were displayed for attendants to look through, providing a history of the beloved organization.
Originally started by Altrusa in 1956, the Senior Citizens Club spent about 20 years as a get-together at the Lovett Memorial Library, but as membership grew, so did the need for a bigger venue.
In February of 1976, the current location, which had formerly been a grocery store, opened its doors and the rest is history.
Wanda Talley was the first director of the Center and little did she know the impact the beloved establishment would make through the decades, many of its members considering the Center their home away from home.
“The purpose of the Center was for the senior citizens to have a place where they could go to play games and have a good meal with friends and have fellowship,” said Teresa Dalrymple, current director. “Routine has a lot to do with it. There are some people that if they didn’t have this place, they wouldn’t know what to do. There would be no place for them to meet friends or see anyone and it would be really hard on them, because that’s what a lot of them do. This is just their place to go.”
While membership is “55 to Heaven”, everyone is welcome to come enjoy a hot lunch served Monday through Friday from 10:45 AM until 1 PM, and is $9 for members, $10 for nonmembers and always $8 for first responders and veterans, and includes your choice between two different meats, two servings of vegetables, one trip to the salad bar, your choice of bread, a drink and desserts that are regular or sugar free. Carryout and delivery are also available.
The community is also encouraged to come out the first Tuesday of every month for the Center’s huge Bingo event that always brings in the crowd. Cards are only a buck and all the proceeds go directly to the Center.
For more information, call 806-669-7414, or to view their weekly menu, visit their Facebook page, Pampa Texas Senior Citizen Center.
The Pampa News congratulates this wonderful establishment on their extraordinary milestone, and we thank you for being a true pillar for the Pampa community. Here’s to another 70!
