City of Methuen Master Plan

Methuen Master Plan 2007
Services for Minority Seniors
The state office of Elder Affairs provided grant funding for a multi-lingual Outreach Worker. While
the bilingual outreach staff member was contacted for help with citizen papers, for the most part
minority seniors, especially Latino seniors attend the Lawrence Senior Center for social events. The
Lawrence Center acts as a regional center for the Latino senior community and is where many of
Methuen Latino seniors’ friends are. Some minority seniors participate in programs at the Methuen
Center and at the Arlington Neighborhood Services Building located at One Broadway.
Intergenerational Programming
The Center collaborates with the CGS grammar school for Pen Pals and the Methuen High School for
the Adopt-a-Grandparent Program. The number of high school students participating has been
increasing significantly. The Methuen Council on Aging was awarded the state “Fran Pratt Award” for
outstanding intergenerational programming.
Shops
Somewhat unusual for a senior center is the existence of two shops in the center. The Gift Shop sells all
homemade items made by Methuen seniors, items such as baby sweaters, quilts, afghans, and homemade
dolls. Participating seniors help defray the cost of upkeep and maintenance of the Gift Shop by
contributing 10% of their total sales for each month. The Gift Shop is open to the public Monday
through Friday from 9:30 am until 3:30 pm.
The Senior Thrift Shop sells “gently worn” clothing, household items, books, etc. All items in the shop
are donated and the proceeds are used to pay for maintenance, upkeep and utilities. The shop is staffed
by a manager and more than 20 senior volunteers and is open from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The Thrift
Shop generates $1,000 - $2,000 per month in income.
Information Dissemination
Information regarding activities at the Senior Center is posted on the web site and a monthly “What’s
Up at the Senior Center” show that provides viewers with a detailed schedule of each month’s activities.
FUTURE
Short term
There are currently approximately 60 parking spaces; the Center reports needing
double that amount. They have tried to purchase a house on an adjacent lot that was recently
for sale, but the cost was too high. There is some on-street parking available, but also seniors
do not wish to/are unable to walk long distances to the reach the center.
PLANS/NEEDS:
The Thrift Shop is very successful and could use double its existing space.
The Center will be remodeling the kitchen in the next couple of years and the downstairs air
quality (including air conditioning) and plumbing need improving.
Long term
While the Center is extremely popular and well used, the new generation of aging baby boomers
will have other expectations regarding aesthetics of the environment as well as programs.
• The center will need to phase out activities according to the degree of participation
(e.g. the current woodworking shop may soon need to be converted to a fitness
space with gym equipment
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