Denton Senior Center A Place To Make Friends

By Alfredo Sanchez April 13, 2015

The Denton Senior Center is a place where Latino Seniors can meet friends, take a little time off from home, and do something new with new friends. 

If you are a Latino or Latina that is bi-lingual, retired or are looking for something meaningful to do, consider volunteering at the Denton Senior Center.   The Senior Center is looking for Latino volunteers to make the Senior Center Latino friendly.  That includes volunteers that speak Spanish so that they can explain to Latino users what is available at the center.  As a Latino volunteer you could also provide information on how to attract the Latino community to the Senior Center by suggesting interesting events that Latinos would find interesting.  “The Senior Center’s Mission is to provide physical, intellectual and social activities to enrich the lives of Denton area citizens 50 of age and older.”

The Center offers a wide range of classes for just about everyone’s interest.  Currently they offer the following dance classes that include: Line dance, Tap dance, Middle Eastern Dance, and social dance classes.  With enough volunteers and Latinos attending the center there may be room to introduce Latino dance classes.   The center provides wellness classes in Tai Chi, and Yoga. These classes are great for stretching-- something many seniors need as their activity decreases with age. For those seniors that feel tired everyday there is nothing like getting that energy pumping in an exercise class featuring Barbara Greene.  After a couple of days of exercise your day with be filled with energy and new activities in order to harness that new found youth.    

Many Latinos are very artistic and the Senior Center provides classes for those who find art classes fulfilling.  The center offers art classes in drawing, watercolors, ceramics, jewelry classes and braiding classes.

For those who are still very young at heart and physically able, outdoor nature activities include: Kayak, archery, fly tying, horseback riding, and camping.  The Denton Senior Center offers day trips to all types of activities depending on what is going on in the surrounding area, and Museum trips.  Members are eligible to enlist on an 8 day Eastern Caribbean Cruise schedule for October. 

Other items of interest include a fully equipped fitness Center that includes bicycles, elliptical machines, treadmills, toning machines and a broad range of free weights. Additionally, the senior Center offers throughout the year a wide variety of Special Event programs. The Senior Center celebrates July 4, Veterans Day, and Mother’s Day with exciting programs.

The Center has other activities. The Senior Center hosts 2 Bazaar type events—Blue Ribbon Arts and Crafts Bazaar which allows artists and craftsmen/women to sell their crafts.  The main room hosts an entertainment stage for the Arts and Jazz festival.  The Center offers Competitive Leagues including the ever popular Chair Volleyball League.  For those Latinos who like to dance, the Senior Center hosts two dances each month with specialized Country Western music.  With enough Latinos involved, Latino dances could be a reality with a little salsa, meringue, tango, polka, etc.  If you are tired of being alone and just want to drop by the Senior Center, there are also programs that include: playing pool, card games (bridge and canasta), puzzles, a full sized woodshop, and a Domino Club. 

Therefore if you have time on your hands and want to make a difference, volunteer at the Denton Senior Center or just visit and participate and let’s make it Latino/Latina friendly.  We all need an escape from the everyday grind.