Wallingford Community's Senior Center is Closing on Friday

Special to The SunBreak by Matt Mason.

Photo courtesy of Matt Mason

Yesterday was the last Sunday Pancake Breakfast at the Wallingford Senior Center . Located inside the Good Shepherd Center, the senior center will be closing its doors this Friday, after thirty years of service to local seniors and to the greater community of Wallingford and North Seattle.

The monthly Sunday Pancake Breakfast has been a staple of the senior center programming along with the Spaghetti Dinner and Friendship Luncheon. On a regular Sunday, they serve anywhere from 85 to 100 meals. A volunteer army of more than 15 people crank out pancakes, french toast, ham, sausage, coffee, tea, and juice served restaurant style, with a host and servers making sure everyone is taken care of.

Jim Stillman, the president of the Board, greets and seats people as they arrive. Board member Angela Larsen jumps in on dish duty as the rush hit, filling the entire basement to capacity, with a wait for seating. Sara, the head of the kitchen, has been volunteering at the pancake breakfast for 23 years. She keeps the breakfast plates flying quickly out to the hungry customers.

Senior centers across the nation have been hit hard in recent years. Kathleen Cromp, the executive director of the center, sees it as a social commentary, a sector of society often overlooked, adding, "We won't be the last [center to close]."

While some centers are programs of the city or state, some, like the one in Wallingford, are totally independent organizations receiving only limited municipal support. It is a difficult business model to maintain, points out Jim Stillman. The low fees for the services provided don't come close to covering the expenses of the center. It is also the only center in Seattle that pays rent. This stand-alone organization has been struggling for many years and the recent economic downturn has made fundraising especially challenging.

The closure of the center is also a step back in the larger goal of a full-blown community center. A long-range plan for this included providing services not just for seniors but for the entire community. The Department of Neighborhoods has voiced their support of the idea, but most of the momentum is lost with this closing.

However, this Friday doesn't have to be the end. The Board is going to continue working to formulate a restart plan. Jim Stillman has met with Frank Chopp, Speaker of the House, and has a meeting scheduled with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen on Tuesday. Jim is hoping a new approach, such as building a coalition of organizations, can produce a more sustainable business model.

So please contact the City Council and Mayor’s office and show your support for the senior center. Help bring this important community organization back to life. If you would like to donate to the center please contact Kathleen Cromp, Executive Director, at 206-461-7825. Also, updates can be found here .