Center 50+ cafe coordinator Judy Pack portions out meals for center staff members while volunteers pick up their daily deliveries in the background. Tuesday, April 14 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
As Center 50+ prepares for a September grand opening, it’s looking for volunteers to help greet members, supervise the hobby room and work the coffee bar.
Salem’s city-run senior center has been helping seniors with activity boxes, mobile wellness checks and food deliveries throughout the pandemic and volunteers are tired, said Marilyn Daily Blair, executive director of Center 50+.
The center has been closed since last March, but the front doors opened on July 6. It is slowly rolling out programs as they prepare for a grand re-opening on Sept. 7.
Hobby areas, the fitness center and some classes are available by reservation.
She said the center is looking for about 200 volunteers, ideally retired.
Typically, the center has 525 volunteers each year, Daily Blair said.
Volunteer trainings will be held on July 15 and 16 and people can reserve a spot by calling 503-588-6303.
More information about volunteering is available on the city’s website.
-Saphara Harrell
