Island Senior: Year-end wrap-up for 2022

Yesterday I went to the Mullis Center for my regularly scheduled foot care appointment. It’s a pleasure if not a genuine necessity to have my feet well cared for. It was a Tuesday and the center was fairly quiet. Still, it was good to see the Christmas trees and lights creating a festive atmosphere.

The Mullis Center’s regular hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment — call 360-370-7520 — on Tuesday and Thursday.

Like the center’s nutrition program — consisting of both Meals on Wheels and community lunches — the center’s foot care program has quietly grown this year, nearly doubling pre-pandemic numbers.

Community lunches are being served Monday and Wednesday between noon and 1 p.m. Salads and deserts are pre-plated and folks are encouraged to spread out arrival times and limit tables to five or six people so as to maintain social distancing. Masks at community lunch are optional and COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are recommended. Menus are posted on the Mullis Center website.

Another one of the Mullis Center’s programs that has quietly become a valued part of my life is Chair Yoga with Katerina Wen. Both Chair Yoga and Balance and Stretch classes continue to be offered via Zoom. Chair Yoga Zoom is at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. Balance and Stretch Zoom is at 9:30 a.m. on Thursdays. If you are like me and may not be ready for exercise at 9:30 in the morning, you can get a link to use the class as many times as you would like to throughout the week. For more information about these classes, call 360-370-7520.

A host of other activities bring folks into the center, including afternoon socials on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. All are welcome to join the games, puzzles, visiting and laughter. There is a painting group from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, a quilting group on Wednesdays from 3-4:30 p.m., and a knitters group on Thursdays from 7-9 p.m.

A new project in the works is the creation of a caregiving directory and resource website called Caregiving Connections San Juan. Any family who has experienced the sudden need of care for a loved one can understand how helpful this will be.

Meanwhile, Senior Services Council has been busy working to change the three senior centers on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan into three distinct non-profits. These changes will allow each center to operate more efficiently serving seniors in each community.

The Mullis Community Senior Center mission statement says, “The mission of the Mullis Community Senior Center is to meet the recreational, intellectual, social, physical, and mental needs of seniors and disabled adults through advocacy, programs, and services so that people can live and age well on San Juan Island.” The Mullis Center Team is working hard to fulfill this mission. Please consider the Mullis Center when planning your year’s end charitable contributions. Help us continue working to fulfill this worthy mission.

Donations can be made online or by a check made payable to the Mullis Center — PO Box 684, or hand-delivered to the Center.

Mullis Center will be closed Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 2.

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