Maryann has joined the Senior Center staff team as our new full-time Program Coordinator.

You might recognize her from the West Seattle community where she has lived for many years and has been a leader in various community-building activities.

Maryann helped launch Megawatt, a West Seattle-based community development and networking nonprofit and is a co-founder of the Barton Street P-Patch. She also served as a project manager/community relations planner for the King County Wastewater Treatment Division bringing neighbors and the county together on large projects in the community.

Maryann has a passion for seniors. She’s excited to bring her ability to quickly establish and maintain relationships with a wide variety of groups and individuals of all ages and backgrounds to her role. She will bring a bright light to the Senior Center and help us establish new programs while keeping the vibrancy of our mission and current programs alive.

At the Senior Center’s virtual holiday party on Dec. 18, we will also be honoring a wonderful person who was a big part of the Senior Center for many years.

 
Walter Jelonek passed away this year. Walter was a regular at Rainbow BINGO, attending nearly every month. He always came over to say hello to the staff and volunteers working in the bar and brought friends to join him at his table. Walter also spent his lifetime crusading for the LGBTQ community.

 

In 2015 Walter was interviewed for a KING 5 news story on isolated LGBTQ seniors. You can watch the story here.

 

He was a lovely and thoughtful man, and we will miss him.

Dear members, participants and friends,

Washington state has issued new restrictions for the coming months to protect the health of our community from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, the Senior Center of West Seattle will be closed for in-person programs and activities beginning this week.

We will still be providing essential services including:
– Lunch delivery Monday through Friday
– Food bank distribution
– Meals on Wheels deliveries
– Social worker outreach

Our many online and virtual programs will continue. See what we’re offering on our website.

Our staff will be reaching out by phone during the next four weeks to check on our members. If you are feeling lonely or sad, please contact us today to let our staff know how we can help. Call 206-932-4044 x1.

We will miss not seeing all of you who were coming in to the Senior Center. Please stay safe and be careful these next few weeks, and we can’t wait to see you again soon.

I wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving,

Amy Lee Derenthal
Executive Director