BY BRIDGET MCMAHON

Gerri Beck spends 62 hours a month volunteering at the Ingram Center and even quit her part-time job at Curves because it was cutting into her time there.

Beck began volunteering at the center after she retired.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and my daughter suggested going to the senior center,” she said. “At first I didn’t want to go there, because I thought I wasn’t that old yet!”

Despite some initial apprehension, Beck decided to give the center a chance. She quickly found the job to be a rewarding experience.

Once just a department of the town of Salem, Salem Senior Services is now a bustling organization with a variety of programs for seniors.

“Our mission is to provide services and opportunities to help seniors maintain self-sufficiency,” said Patti Drelick, director of Salem Senior Services.

Salem Senior Services has been serving the area since 1967, and in 1968 began holding meetings in the fire house.

The Ingram Senior Center, 1 Sally Sweet’s Way, was built five years ago for the senior program,  and the center celebrated its fifth anniversary on Thursday, Aug. 2.

“We have grown 600 percent and our programming has doubled,” said Drelick. “We really need our volunteers to help lead and teach various programs.”

For the past five years, Beck has volunteered in a variety of ways: She started assisting seniors in the Easy Tone exercise room, then began helping out in the Thrift and Gift Shop. She also helps at the front desk.

Beck has many fond memories of the seniors she has worked with at the center.

“When (one woman) first started coming to the Easy Tone room, she thought she couldn’t do the machines at all,” said Beck. “But soon enough, she started helping others use the machines. She also loved her sales position in the thrift shop. She’d get all dressed up and thought it was just the greatest thing.”

Beck is particularly proud of the Seniors Embracing Life Fully program, known as SELF, which gives older people a chance to socialize and stay active. Every week the group focuses on an activity related to mind, body and soul. SELF began with 11 women and ballooned to 31.

She believes the center has added a great deal to the community.

“It’s great to watch them realize they are not alone, and see them come back and enjoy themselves. I feel like I’m giving back,” said Beck. “While I can physically and mentally, I’m going to try and make the center a bigger and happier place.”

For more information about Ingram Center programs or volunteer opportunities, call 890-2190.