The Odenville Senior Center located in the Odenville Town Hall offers a little something for everyone over 60.

Every week the seniors who attend participate in a variety of activities from singings to bingo or ceramics to exercise routines. Approximately 40 seniors are active at the center.

Ruby Botiford has been the director of the center for the past 22 years. She said she believes having a place like the Odenville Senior Center is important to the area’s senior adults.

Pat Kennedy, a participant at Odenville Senior Center, said she believes it is important for seniors in the area to know what is available for them. “When you are sitting home by yourself, you don’t know anyone and you are new in the area or even if you have been here for a long time and just don’t know a place like this exists, you have an outlet if you come here,” Kennedy said. “You can play cards, you can read a variety of magazines, you can do ceramics, you can sew at our sewing machine or you can play bingo and other games. We also have informational programs directed specifically at senior citizens. There are a lot of people who come and talk to us and give us information about things we don’t know about. They try to help the seniors to know what is going on around them.”

“We have a whole lot of fun,” she added. “We try to go places and do things and bring in a lot of people who might not have transportation. Having a place like this is important to us.”

Botiford arrives at the center on Tuesdays through Friday at 7:30 a.m. Most days a group she calls the “Early Birds” arrives shortly after and spend the morning playing dominoes and reminiscing. The center opens at 10 a.m. when those who ride the bus arrive and get ready to take part in the day’s events.

Botiford said Tuesdays are set aside for bingo, Wednesdays and Thursdays for local singers including Ethel Seals, Richard McMunn, Lymon Lovejoy, Sam Todd, Hearthstone Bellringers and many others. Exercise takes place on Fridays with Jan Jordan. Mondays are usually set-aside for speakers such as Gretchen Williams, who speak about wellness and senior living and on the last day of the month, the center holds a birthday party for those who have celebrated their big day. Seniors can also take part in the Ceramic Club with Ceramics Chairman Lanette Hudgins. Those who want to participate can pick the ceramic pieces they would like to paint and the materials are provided. They then sell their items and the money they make is put back into the club in order to purchase more supplies.

This year, the Odenville Senior Center plans on joining other St. Clair County seniors for a senior picnic sponsored by the Moody Senior Center at Moody City Park on May 13.

The Odenville Senior Center offers public transportation for those interested and meals are provided daily at the center for a donation of $1.50.

For additional information contact the Odenville Senior Center at 205-629-5351.