Friends of Poway Seniors continues to elevate the impact the non-profit has on the lives of older adults in our community.
At the October 17 Poway City Council meeting, the organization that once operated as the Poway Senior Center presented Poway with a check for $110,000 in support of the city’s older adult programming and announced a $143,000 pledge to benefit the congregate meal program available Monday through Friday at the Mickey Cafagna Community Center.
“This is an incredible collaboration between the Friends of Poway Seniors and the City of Poway,” said Friends of Poway Seniors President Cynthia Elizondo, estimating that volunteers collectively donated roughly 10,000 hours over the past year on their fundraising efforts.
“The programming that’s made possible is just a blessing to our entire community,” said Mayor Steve Vaus, recognizing the efforts of the volunteers who operate the ReRuns Resale store, serve on the Bingo Committee and participate as Bingo volunteers.
When the Mickey Cafagna Community Center opened in June 2021, the transition was already in place for Friends of Poway Seniors to focus on funding services while the city took over providing services. Last year the initial programming offered by the city was enhanced through a $100,000 donation from the Friends of Poway Seniors. The money allowed staff to furnish a lounge used for older adult activities, equip the kitchen to run the new congregate meal program and provide staffing to manage the program that serves 1,100 meals each month. Friends of Poway Seniors also subsidize the meal program, offer Bingo on Tuesdays and Sundays, and provide tax services to older adults each year.
The city’s older adult programming, in addition to the congregate meal program, includes monthly themed lunches with entertainment (like the Ghoulish Gathering on Friday, Oct. 27), monthly movies and seasonal activities. For more information, visit poway.org/olderadults.
