For many of us, a trip from Seward to Hope might seem like a simple day trip. But for a group of local older Alaskans this August, it was much more than that.
The Seward Senior Center recently brought 17 participants and staff to Hope for a day of history, good food, beautiful weather, and most importantly, time together. The Seward Community Foundation (SCF) was proud to help make the trip possible through a grant to the Senior Center.
The trip is just one example of the important role the Senior Center plays in our community. Its mission is to support the honor, dignity, security, and independence of older Alaskans and help them maintain meaningful, quality lives. Throughout the year, the Center provides meals, fitness and educational programs, social services, activities, and opportunities for older residents to stay connected.
Sometimes, that mission also means getting out of town for the day.
The Senior Center also recognizes that taking the first step toward getting involved can be difficult. With loneliness and isolation common among older adults, outings like the Hope trip can provide an easy entry point to make connections. Senior Center staff often see participants become more engaged with other programs and activities after joining a trip.
And sometimes, that first connection starts by simply getting on the bus.
The group started at the Hope & Sunrise Museum, learning about the area’s gold rush history and the thousands of people who once came to Hope seeking their fortunes.
From there, everyone gathered for lunch at the Creekbend Cafe. New friendships were made, old acquaintances caught up, and plenty of stories were shared around the table.
After lunch, smaller groups explored the Hope Community Library and Book Shed before everyone made their way to the shoreline to enjoy sunny skies and a light breeze.
And no Alaska road trip is complete without ice cream. On the way home, the group stopped at Summit Lake for cones provided by the Senior Center’s Five and Dime Club and, for a few participants, a chance to dip their toes in the lake.
On the way home, conversations filled the bus and overflow minivan.
One comment at the end of the day captured why opportunities like this matter. A participant who hadn’t left Seward in more than five years called it the best day of their summer and was already asking: When is the next field trip?
For the Seward Community Foundation, stories like this show what local grantmaking can accomplish. Sometimes a grant helps create a simple opportunity: to get out of town, learn something new, reconnect with an old friend, meet a new one, and come home with stories to tell.
The Seward Senior Center works throughout the year to keep older Alaskans active, independent, and connected to their community. SCF was happy to play a small part in extending that mission all the way to Hope for a day.
Find out more about the Seward Senior Center on their website at www.sewardsenior.org