ABOUT THE SUNSHINE CENTER
The Sunshine Center is a nationally accredited multi-service center where seniors can gather for a variety of recreational, social and educational programming.
The City of St. Petersburg's Sunshine Senior Center mission is to serve as a community focal point to enhance the quality of life of our citizens aged 50 and over.
The Sunshine Center offers a nice mix of small group activities such as arts and crafts, table tennis, creative writing, combined with large group activities like arthritis exercise classes, tai chi, yoga, Caribbean aerobics, and many other activities.
In addition to other support groups, the Center recently started an LBGT support group. In addition, we have a number of agencies that call the Sunshine Center home like the Guardian Group Services, Moore Medicare Options, Neighborly Care Network, and Kids n Kubs.
The resources and activities available at this center help many older people remain a vital part of their communities. The center provides a welcoming environment for all seniors in the community interested in taking part in the group atmosphere.
The Sunshine Center would love to have you come visit and join in the fun.
Happy New Year Everyone!
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I’d like to let you in on some accomplishments at the Sunshine Senior Center from the past Fiscal Year (Oct.
21 to Sept. 22).
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Our gardeners have taken down the decrepit green house, built seven raised beds, and added a concrete pad for
wheelchair/walker users. Seasonal plantings are always a pleasure to watch pop up out of the ground and into
some of our mouths! The Senior Hall of Fame had planned on a 25% increase but made it 44% with 23
nominees in the running. We have incorporated Wellness Wednesday programming where various partners
come in, provide a variety of health screenings free of charge and give us good information about healthy
aging. Cardio Drumming has taken off and is so much fun, the class is almost full every week. The National
Council on Aging provided a Bone Health and Fall Prevention program which attracted national speakers. We
had visits from the heads of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the Area Agency on Aging of
Pasco/Pinellas County, and the National Council on Aging. Our overall attendance has increased 50% on most
months from previous years. Our application for national accreditation status has been submitted and we
should know if we’ve passed within the next month.
Now, onto what we hope to accomplish this year. We will start Doc Talks in February, which is sponsored by
Moore Medicare Options, and will bring in doctors to talk about what’s in our garden, how to eat healthy, and
stay in good spirits. Readers Theatre is coming back in January. We may be doing some Radio Shows from
yesteryear. No memorizing, just reading the script. It’s a lot of fun to pretend! We are also doing another full-
length stage play “Eating at Edie’s” on May 19 and 20. Auditions will be February 22 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
We extend a special thank you to the “Friends” for sponsoring the play! We have a great contest coming up for
photographers and writers with great prizes. Watch the newsletter for that upcoming announcement.
I will repeat that this is one heck of a fun place to be! We laugh, we joke, we have fun. Our golden years are
supposed to be a celebration of what we have accomplished in life. It’s time our responsibilities are left behind
and we simply enjoy every day. So, come on down, where the sun always shines!
Sally Marvin, Supervisor II
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