Lake City Center: Helping Local Seniors Stay Nourished, Active and Connected

Nancy Phillips, Director of Lake City Center, joined the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene as our guest speaker on September 16, sharing how the Center supports seniors and others throughout our community.

Lake City Center has been an important Kiwanis community partner for many years. Every Wednesday, Kiwanis volunteers deliver Meals on Wheels for the Center, with Kiwanian Michelle Gonzalez coordinating our club’s Meals on Wheels volunteers.

The Center provides free meals every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, including delivery to seniors who are unable to drive or otherwise unable to reliably obtain food for themselves. All of Lake City Center’s services are provided free to its clients.

But nutrition is only part of its mission. Nancy explained that social isolation can be a serious issue for seniors, and Lake City Center offers numerous opportunities to help people remain active and connected. Programs include group meals, line dancing, tai chi and chair yoga. The Center is also beginning technology classes for seniors, including instruction on recognizing and avoiding fraud and scams.

Beginning in October, new fiber arts programs will include crocheting and spinning wheel activities. For many participants, Lake City Center has become much more than a place to attend a class or enjoy a meal—it is an encouraging community and, for some, a second home.

Nancy also shared how a recent grant from the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene helped Lake City Center purchase a new three-door refrigerator. The refrigerator is being used to store milk for the Center’s nutrition programs, making it a very tangible example of how our club’s community grants support local organizations and the people they serve.

Lake City Center also provides nutritional support for children and others in need and coordinates with assisted living and rehabilitation facilities and other service providers.

The Center will be offering a Thanksgiving meal this year and welcomes volunteers who would like to help.

Thank you, Nancy, for visiting our club—and thank you to Lake City Center for the many ways you help nourish, connect and support people in our community.

Photograph: (left to right) Nancy Phillips, Michelle Gonzalez