Chocolay Township Senior Center Activities Director Bob Mercure holds a pie and rolling pin as he prepares for a pie social to be held at the center in 2018. (Journal photo by Cecilia Brown)

By TAYLOR JOHNSON

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — The Chocolay Senior Center is a wonderful resource for senior citizens age 60 and older. It is a welcoming place where residents can go to socialize, build new friendships, and plan outings together.

All of this could soon be lost if attendance continues to decline. There is consideration of shutting the program down, temporarily or permanently.

“We are at a critical point. The last two years have been testing our resilience,” senior center coordinator and retired educator Robert Mercure said. “The COVID pandemic has really effected many of our social activities.”

About eight to twelve people are currently showing up to the center, less than half of pre-pandemics attendance numbers.

The Chocolay Senior Center is a voluntary gathering center for seniors in the Chocolay Township area. Residents meet at the township hall located at 5010 U.S. 41.

Usually they would meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m., but due to lack of attendance, the group is now meeting only on Tuesdays.

Because the group meets in a township building, they must follow township protocols. This includes COVID-19 regulations, everyone must be fully vaccinated or wear a mask.

The center is all volunteer based. Fortunately, the township does not charge the group rent for the room they use.

The township and the Lion’s Club have both been supportive of the group, in the past they’ve donated a little bit of money to buy things like a coffee pot and small refrigerator. Other than that though, there is no funding for the group.

Everyone who attends the center is asked to donate one dollar. These dollars are put towards buying coffee and snacks for everyone to enjoy. It also goes towards paying for the Marq-Tran bus to take them to their various outings.

“It’s a self funded thing, we do everything out of that dollar,” Mercure said.

The center usually goes on trips somewhere in Marquette County once a month. The Marq-Tran provides transportation to the locations for one dollar per person. Trips they’ve been on include: The Thunder Bay Inn, Bay Cliff, K.I. Sawyer manufacturing plants, Eagle Mine, Moosewood Nature Center, Jilbert Dairy, The Mining Journal, museums in Marquette, and programs at Northern Michigan University.

“We’ve been to anything that anyone has any interest in,” Mercure said. “People drive by businesses or companies all the time but they don’t know what goes on inside.”

When the group isn’t traveling, they gather at the township hall to mingle. Residents enjoy cribbage, pinnacle, potlucks, bingo, balloon volleyball, checkers, scrabble, or whatever they want to initiate.

They can bring crafts to work on, such as knitting or crocheting. Sometimes they invite locals to come and play music.

“The gatherings provide a social outlet for everyone,” Mercure said. “Isolation and inactivity are one of the biggest enemies of senior health.”

The senior center proves to be a great asset to the community. Without it, some senior citizens may not get the socialization they would like.

Being in Chocolay Township makes it easy for residents of the township to drive or walk there, rather than having to drive to other senior centers in towns further away. To lose the center would be devastating to many. This is why it is asking for community support.

“We ask any retired senior age 60 plus in the area interested in keeping this program going to stop in on Tuesday, February 15 or Thursday, February 17 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. to express your support,” Mercure said. “If people are still a little leery about coming because of the pandemic, I understand. But, I want to know if they’re still interested that we keep it alive.”

Taylor Johnson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is tjohnson@miningjournal.net.