Yard Sale, Cookout Benefit Senior Center

members delight not only in all of the activities provided for them, but also in making improvements to the center through yard sales.

Their second of four yard sales planned for this year was held Friday and Saturday at the Bill "Papa" Morris building, one of two buildings comprising the senior center next to the on Atlanta Street.

Next month, Dee Chappell will be celebrating her seventh anniversary as the center's director. Although paid as a part-time employee by the city, her husband, Larry, said his wife actually works full-time with no extra compensation. 

Chappell gives her husband credit for helping her and the center. He was grilling hot dogs and sausages for the sale. She said he also stops by in Powder Springs once or twice a month to pick up free baked goods that are donated by the store to the center. 

Funds raised from the yard sale will help pay for new blinds in the one building, replace chairs in the other, and buy more quilting materials for members. 

"We try to be as self-sufficient as we can," Chappell explained.

Chappell said anyone with quilting materials or produce that they would like to donate can contact her at 770-943-1555.

The city owns both buildings and provides vans and gas for their day trips. One recent "mystery trip" on July 8 was to Madison with a stop at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, GA for lunch. They also toured the corporate headquarters of Chick-fil-A on Thursday.

Fall trips include a riverboat cruise in Chattanooga and a visit to an Ellijay apple orchard.

However, these trips are only for members, who must be at least 55 and be interviewed by Chappell for acceptance. Also, the members have to pay for their meals and admissions.

Members also have to pay an annual fee to join: $10 if a Powder Springs resident, $15 if a Cobb resident outside the city, and $20 to $25 if a non-Cobb resident.

Chappell emphasized the center is "an activity center for the independent and self-sufficient senior." She said she has been receiving "a lot" of inquiries for adult daycare services since some of the Cobb senior centers have closed. However, they do not provide adult daycare.

Among the classes are computer, mosaic art, jewelry design, music and fitness—all taught by volunteers.

On Chappell's watch, the membership has grown from 13 in 2004 to roughly 140 now. The center opened in 1992.

Member Joan Sanders said: "It's beautiful here. It has a good membership."

J. D. Reece, a member and volunteer, has lived in Powder Springs for 68 years. Next month, he will turn 82 "if the good Lord lets me live."

A Ford Motor Co. inspector for 26 years until his retirement at 62, he says his wife will turn 82 in December. "We're thankful every day we can get up and still go."