As Texoma’s population ages, our seniors seek new opportunities to socialize, stay busy, and have fun. Fortunately, the Sherman Senior Center is available to help seniors meet those needs. The Sherman Senior Center offers meals, activities, opportunities to visit with friends, and volunteer opportunities.
Senior Center Coordinator, Deena Lowry, is happy to assist residents in getting started and involved. “We are growing. This year, we had over 170 new members. It is insane how many new people are coming into the Texoma area, and we fill an important need in the community. We offer various classes, holiday events, fishing tournaments, bingo, volleyball, and a great facility. We have a game room with billiards, exercise equipment, including treadmills for walking indoors, a computer center where members can use computers, a television room to watch shows, and a great event room with a kitchen where we host fun events and activities. We offer a wide range of engaging and fun activities for seniors, as well as programs designed to keep them busy and healthy. We partner with Meals On Wheels, and we deliver over 270 meals a month in Sherman.”
The Sherman Senior Center is often a busy hub of activity. According to Ms. Lowry, they average 100 member visits a day, and that number continues to increase. The City of Sherman covers the cost of memberships, allowing residents to join for free. Ms. Lowry, who has had a career working with seniors, still hopes that more seniors will take advantage of the programs and services offered at the Sherman Senior Center. When asked what some of the favorite activities the seniors enjoy are, she was quick to point out a few of the programs and events offered. “We have a big dance in August that many seniors enjoy. We have big Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and holiday events with great food and fellowship. We partner with the City of Denison to have an annual fishing derby at Waterloo Park. We have been doing this for over twenty years. In fact, you don’t have to be a resident of Sherman to join us. There is no residency restriction. You can live anywhere and join. The minimum age of membership is fifty years old.”
As the population of Texoma ages, she hopes that even more people will join the Sherman Senior Center. “There is a stigma sometimes of admitting that you are a senior. I think that keeps some people from joining us. I think that some people feel like once they join, they are admitting they are old. But that is just not true.”
Carrie Tyler, the Sherman Senior Center activities specialist, agrees. “I think that staying busy and active really helps you as you get older. We do our best to provide healthy and fun activities for every single person who walks through that front door. No matter what their needs are, we want to provide a safe and enjoyable space for our seniors. My goal as an activities specialist is to keep everyone active and meet their needs as seniors. I hope that our members get the word out to others so that more people can have a healthier and fulfilling life. I do try to stress that it is not just about numbers. We want our seniors to have a happier and healthier life. Quality of life is so important to our well-being, and I really do feel we help our members find that here at the Sherman Senior Center.
To get more information on joining the Sherman Senior Center, you can visit the facility at 1500 N. Broughton Street or call 903-892-7316. You can also email Deena Lowry at deenam@cityofsherman.com or visit their Facebook page.