Gala salutes senior group’s past, future

10th anniversary gala benefits future center

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Mountlake Terrace Senior Group members and supporters celebrated their accomplishments and invested in the group’s future at a 10th anniversary gala on Saturday, Oct. 1.

The 200-person dinner and auction was the first step toward finding or building a new senior center as well as offering more programs in the near future, said Kathy McNulty, the group’s part-time administrator.

“This is just the beginning,” McNulty said. “It (the senior center) is just an idea — but you have to start somewhere.”

The gala raised at least $9,000 and counting, McNulty said, but they still have to pay for expenses. State Rep. Al O’Brien donated the room and tables, which would have been a significant expense. Not bad for an event that attracted about 50 people last year.

“It was a success, and it was sold out,” McNulty said. “It was wonderful.”

The Mountlake Terrace Senior Group board of directors will meet this month to discuss how to create a new senior center, McNulty said. The group has to consider how much space is needed, what amenities to offer, where it could be located and how to fund it.

“We know that we want to grow in a responsible manner,” McNulty said.

The challenge is creating a place that can serve older adults ages 50 to 100, who have different physical, mental and emotional needs, McNulty said.

“Some are very active and others are very frail,” she said.

For now, the group is seeking organizations or facilities willing to work with the Mountlake Terrace Senior Group and offer more programs.

Founded in 1995, the Terrace Senior Group now serves about 175 card-carrying members in fun and informative ways. The group’s most popular programs, including weekly hot lunches, information seminars, field trips and hobby clubs, are open to drop-in participants, who do stop by.

“We are not such a small group, but we are in such a small building,” McNulty said. “So we are looking for space in the community to offer more programs.”

Fun and functional

McNulty is confident the Mountlake Terrace Senior Group would attract and serve more people if the group had a new center with more space and visibility. About five years ago, the Bethesda Lutheran Church invited the Terrace Senior Group to rent a building located at 5605 235th St. SW.

“We get the impression that people do not know we are here because we are so small and tucked around the corner,” McNulty said. “We are not physically visible because we are not on a main street.”

Mountlake Terrace Senior Group events are fun and functional, McNulty said. Older adults can learn how to stay healthy, avoid scams that target older adults, understand Medicare benefits and other things at information seminars. The group recently hosted a seminar about the new prescription drug benefit.

Weekly hot lunches, which attract about 50 people at a time, is one of the group’s most popular event. Cafe on the Terrace dishes up hot food on Wednesdays for $4 each and Senior Services of Snohomish County serves hot meals on Fridays for $2. There is usually a speaker or program after lunch, McNulty said.

Members give as much as they receive, McNulty said, because they enjoy volunteering in the community. The center hopes to compile information about volunteer opportunities and make it available.

For fun, the group also organizes field trips, picnics and numerous hobby groups, such as movies, guitar playing, card games, sewing and crafts. One group meets regularly to discuss current events.

“There are so many things going on,” McNulty said. “If you have an interest, chances are your senior center will offer it. If it doesn’t, they will figure out a way to make it happen.”