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Community rallies to find Gig Harbor senior center a new home

For nine and a half years, the senior center in Gig Harbor has shared space, rent-free, in a building owned by the local Boys and Girls Club. But the Peninsula School District is now purchasing the building.

GIG HARBOR, Wash — After a decade run, the Senior Club in Gig Harbor is scrambling to find a new location. Currently they offer a place for members to go five days a week but soon that will shrink to two.

The senior center sees 120 members take advantages of services that range from physical fitness to mental health and socializing. The seniors said these activities help them live a long and healthy life as they age.

One of those members is 90-year-old, Don Christenson.  

“After my wife passed away I was pretty lonely around here, so this is a place to come see people and not be by yourself,” Christenson said between shots of pool.

RELATED: Gig Harbor seniors search for new center location

It’s stories like this that breaks Joyce Schultz's heart.

“They’ll be home, they’ll be sitting home watching TV, alone many of them and that’s not a good thing. Seniors need to stay active. They need to socialized,” said Schultz, who is board president of the newly formed non profit, Gig Harbor Senior Center.

For nine and a half years, the senior center in Gig Harbor has shared space, rent-free, in a building owned by the local Boys and Girls Club. But the Peninsula School District is now purchasing the building. While the Boys and Girls Club will reportedly still use the space, the district will need the rest of the building to meet the needs of students. As a result, the seniors have been told they need to find a new space as early as June.

“We’re grateful to have been here for ten years. They’ve been a great host to us but it’s just the end of the road for that scenario. So it’s time to stand on our own two feet,” Schultz said.

Rather than be victims these seniors realized it’s time to grow up and that’s what they’ve done.

In just they last three months they’ve formed a nonprofit, appointed a board and are actively fundraising to find a place of their own.

“We are a viable organization moving forward at the speed of lightning it seems. I’ve not been this busy in a long time,” Schultz said.

They’re busy but not there yet. As it stands most of the exercise classes will go away, for now. They have found temporary placement two days a week with the Harbor Covenant Church.

Yes, they’re loosing their building. But this is also an exciting time for them.

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