Providing Fun, Food, & Friendship to Fort Bragg Seniors

by Anna Levy

Jill Rexrode, Executive Director of the Redwood Coast Senior Center, is clearly passionate about her work. Sitting down to talk about their food program, and the services that organization offers to seniors in general, is nothing short of inspiring. With a daily average of 90-110 people coming for lunch—to say nothing of the many activities and resources they offer—it’s obvious that the Senior Center has built quite a community.

Founded in 1973 and currently “about halfway through” a 99-year lease from the Fort Bragg Unified School District, the Senior Center has evolved over the years to meet the varied interests and needs of the community’s population of older adults. At this point, one of the flagship offerings is an extensive food program that has been serving the community since 1974. Jill shares, “It definitely has evolved into a very big program.”

As part of that program, diners can opt to join others for lunch five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 11:30am to 1:15pm. “We have really healthy food that is approved by a registered dietitian,” Jill explains. “We contract with the Area Agency on Aging. [They] review our menus every month and approve them to make sure that we’re serving balanced meals.” They also make sure to flag foods that could be an issue for people with certain health considerations, such as a food high in salt. The result is a monthly menu of meals such as chicken parmesan, beef ravioli, vegetarian soups, and salads.

Another key aspect of the dining program is to make sure it’s financially accessible. “It’s by donation,” Jill says, noting that for people over 60, “the suggested donation is $5. If somebody is under 60, then it’s $10, which is a heck of a bargain for a three course meal.”

In addition to the lunch program at the Senior Center, they also deliver meals to homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels. “On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday,” Jill says, “we send out about 150 meals that are hot that day, in addition to frozen, to supplement for the days that we don’t deliver.” As with so much, the pandemic affected both food programs— the in-house lunch program became a pickup-only option, and the Meals on Wheels offerings were trimmed from five days a week to three. That, however, turned out to be an opportunity in disguise. “When the pandemic happened, a lot of the seniors that do the Meals on Wheels deliveries decided to shelter in place,” she says. “And then we found out that the seniors prefer [deliveries] three days a week, so it’s worked out just fine.”

Of course, the food program is just one part of what the Senior Center offers the community. There are frequent activities to choose from, among them regular meetings for people who like to quilt, knit, play ping pong, and more. “We have ‘Wake Up and Walk’ on Wednesdays at 8:30. You can meet in the atrium, and we have coffee and a little goodie. Then Jennie Stevens, our new activities coordinator, takes everybody for a walk.” There are also chair-based exercise classes three days a week that focus on building balance and strength. The effort to build a strong sense of community is clear and intentional. Jennie has put together a Fourth Friday Food Trucks event, an all-ages community-wide party including local food vendors, live music, and games.

Jill—who “was born and raised here”—knows her audience. To that end, the Senior Center offers some vital services, such as affordable transportation through a contract with the Mendocino Transit Authority. “It’s a dollar to go wherever between the bridges, and then as you go beyond the bridges, the fees go up, but the highest fee is only four dollars.” That same thoughtfulness shines through such details as the “wheelchair-accessible planter” near the entrance to the rehabilitated garden.

The Senior Center plays an important role in the larger community as well. For instance, Jill says, “We are an emergency shelter in the community,” meaning that people can come for power and internet if needed. “I feel really good about that,” she continues, “that we’re here for an emergency, and I want to expand.” The planning for that, of course, presents challenges. “Even though we’re an emergency shelter,” she says, “we are so low on space in this building. I would really like to get a storage pod container so that we have emergency blankets, cots, and dehydrated food.”

Jill has other hopes for the future as well, from expanding the live music in the dining room from three days a week to five, to other, longer-term goals. “My dream, “she says, “is to build a coffee shop in the front atrium offering home baked pastries.” Though that would be a significant project, involving first an accessible entrance and door, Jill can imagine it easily. “I want to call it Friendship Coffee,” she explains, talking about how people could come, get a coffee, visit the Senior Center thrift store, and play a part in providing “a little revenue stream for here.”

With such plans, of course, there’s work to be done, and Jill stresses that volunteers are always welcome and needed, whether that’s to serve in the dining room, work in the thrift store, or offer another skill. Beyond that, donations or even “people thinking about us in their estate planning” are ways to make a lasting impact on seniors in the community, both now and in the future.

Jill is happy with how the Senior Center continues to grow. “The word’s out that it’s a beautiful facility,” she says. “It’s clean, it smells good, it’s pretty, and the food is great. So people are flocking in and it’s wonderful. It was my dream, and it’s happening.”

Redwood Coast Senior Center

490 N Harold St, Fort Bragg
(707) 964-0443 | rcscenter.org

Don't miss Fourth Friday Food Trucks June 28th, July 26th, August 23, 2024 from 5 - 8pm.

Photos courtesy of Redwood Coast Senior Center

Anna Levy lives on the Mendocino Coast with her family.