New director seeks to make a difference

LINCOLN — Ashley Wright knew she was making a difference as a Meals on Wheels driver in Lincoln, but she wanted to make an even bigger difference.

That’s why she applied back in the fall to be the new Lincoln Senior Center director.

Since she became director in September, the number of homebound senior adults receiving Meals on Wheels has grown from 25 to 46 people. She said the number has grown because the center now is willing to accept more people and has expanded its service through rural routes in areas such as Morrow, Evansville and Summers.

“I’m really proud of that,” Wright said. “I knew there was a need for that in the community. If they are in the school district, if they want a meal, I’m going to get it to them.”

The number of seniors coming in for meals each day during the week also has increased. Wright attributes that to everyone being more open and welcoming to new people coming into the center.

She said the center fed 191 individuals during December and the number of meals coming out of the kitchen as increased from 2,000 to 5,000 during the last few months.

“The kitchen is making twice as much food and we’re so glad to see more people eat,” Wright said.

As Wright completes her fifth month as director, she said she especially enjoys getting to talk to senior adults, either in the center or by delivering meals, and likes to learn from their experiences.

“You can learn so much if you just sit and listen,” she said.

In addition to hot lunches, the center also has regular activities that gospel singing, live music, Bingo and a chair exercise class.

Presently, the center is trying to raise $5,000 to install automatic front doors. A Bingo fundraiser brought in $1,335. A Valentine Day dance with a live band will be held Feb. 10 and another Bingo fundraiser will be held Feb. 24.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Lynn Kutter) Janet Funk (left) deals playing cards for a game of Tic at Lincoln Senior Center. Two tables of Tic were underway this day at the center.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Lynn Kutter) Lincoln Senior Center has a chair exercise class at 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Lynette Ellis and Pam Moore were leading the class. Other scheduled events include live music, bingo games and gospel singing.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Lynn Kutter) Jay Viles looks over his cards during a game of Tic at Lincoln Senior Center. The object of the game is to be the first player each round to “tic” by getting rid of all your cards and to have the lowest number of points at the end of the game.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Lynn Kutter) Ashley Wright has been Lincoln Senior Center director since September.