Services, activities at older adult center

Dozens of seniors gathered at the South Philadelphia Older Adult Center on Friday for bingo and a visit with state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler. 

SPOAC, on Passyunk Avenue at Dickinson Street, offers older adults a variety of services including health information, exercise and art classes, lunch and social activities. Fiedler and several members of her staff were on hand to help seniors with state services.

“It was wonderful to talk with seniors about their lives, their dreams, and to find ways we can help them address the challenges they’re facing,” said Fiedler. “We enjoy bringing services straight to seniors to make it as easy as possible for them to get help.”

Center director Debby Hoffer thanked Fiedler and her staff for continuing to bring services straight to SPOAC seniors.  

“Shortly after the COVID-19 vaccine was released, Rep. Fiedler reached out to make sure our seniors had access to the vaccine,” Hoffer said. “The process of getting a shot early on was complicated and difficult, especially for a lot of our seniors who don’t use the internet. Many of them have multiple health problems, so getting the shot was lifesaving for them but it wasn’t easy. Rep. Fiedler went above and beyond for them; she worked hard to advocate for our seniors to have access to the shot right here in the neighborhood and she kept checking in to ensure our seniors’ health was protected.”

The senior center has been a refuge for neighborhood families since 1979, with the goal of providing quality-of-life services, and health and social activities for South Philly seniors.

Frances Buthusiem, who lives on the 2500 block of S. Franklin St., said, “It was a wonderful event for seniors to get help with getting their SEPTA passes.”