The Yorktown Senior Center saw its final day of operation on Friday, Nov. 14, after limited funds and ongoing budget cuts forced the program to shut down.
The closure affects roughly 20 local seniors who relied on the center as a daily gathering place for meals, socialization, and support.
“It gives us a place to go, get out and socialize,” said member Mackey Vogel, reflect-ing on what the center meant to those who attended regularly.
In recent months, the center had been meeting inside the Yorktown Fire Department, which allowed the group to use its facility. Inside, visitors were greeted with friendly faces, lively conversations, and games of cards and dominoes — evidence of the tight-knit community that had formed there.
For many, the center offered more than recreation. It offered connection.
“You can only sit at home alone and cry so much,” one member shared, explaining that the program provided a vital space to avoid isolation.
On its last operating day, staff member Judy Guerrero was busy preparing lunch for the 10 attendees present. She explained that meals cost about $3 per person each day and were supplied by Meals on Wheels out of Victoria.
