40 years ago this month, 65 people, including Clackamas County
Commissioner Stan Skoko, celebrated the opening of the Hoodland Senior
Center, Information & Referral Center at the Lions Club. On Wednesday, Feb.
28, the Senior Center will celebrate four decades of serving seniors from Alder
Creek to Government Camp at its current location, 65000 E. Hwy. 26 in
Welches. The celebration will take place from 1-3 p.m.

Ella Vogel, the center’s director, noted that all their efforts are supported by
volunteers.

“They’ve been the backbone of this organization from the beginning,” she
said.

The group first formed in November 1976, devised by Reva Cox as the
Hoodland Senior Citizens, and held the first potluck luncheon at the Lions Club
on Feb. 8, 1977. 32 people came to the first meeting, followed by 52 at the
second, with potluck luncheons becoming a monthly event.

“That’s what I found amazing, it was established by potluck luncheons and
just volunteers,” said Vogel, who has been combing through the organization’s
history in the recent months.

The center runs a variety of programs, including classes on topics such as
knitting and better bone health, offers trips to a wide range of activities
including Spirit Mountain Casino, OMSI and restaurants, counsels seniors on
Medicare and also operates the local Meals On Wheels program. Vogel, one of
two part-time employees, notes that the organization operates solely on
donations and stressed the importance of the volunteers, including the Meals
On Wheels drivers (Bob Boertien, Julie Bailey, Mary Imel McIntosh, Connie
Mahlum, Judy Simon, Susan Stindt and Barbara Vangelder), who delivered
2,785 meals, and bus drivers (Doug Burk, Bob Fletcher, Ed Grenfell, David
Marshall and Mark Smith), who drove 4,571 miles and 1,401 one-way trips
during the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Vogel hopes to make a list of volunteers throughout the years and also create
a “wall of memories,” featuring photos of them.

“There's nothing more than I‘d like to show them how much we appreciate
them,” Vogel said.

Vogel noted that one recent addition to the center has made a difference – a
shed that stores medical equipment, including wheelchairs and walkers.
Wheelchairs are offered at $1 a day (no charge for walkers), giving seniors on
the mountain an affordable option that is nearby.

And as for future programs, Vogel hopes to potentially add a farmer’s market
in the center’s parking lot sometime.