Annual tradition showcases creativity of older adults at 135 Senior Community Centers from 46 counties across the Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) today announced that visitors to the State Capitol Main Rotunda during the holiday season can check out hundreds of handmade ornaments hung on the Christmas tree that were created by older adults from across the Commonwealth. Older adults from 135 Senior Community Centers in 46 counties submitted ornaments in response to an annual invitation from the Department. The Christmas tree will remain in the State Capitol Main Rotunda until January 8, 2025.
“The Department of Aging is pleased to once again see the tremendous response of ornaments submitted by the Senior Community Centers. These ornaments and the tree will help spread good cheer and unity to the hundreds of thousands of visitors to our State Capitol during this holiday season,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “We are proud to join the Area Agencies on Aging and the Senior Community Centers that submitted the ornaments to display the creativity of the older adults who hand made them. I thank all the older adults who contributed ornaments as part of this annual holiday tradition.”
Senior Community Centers that submitted holiday ornaments include:
- Adams County Area Agency on Aging on behalf of the six Senior Community Centers
- Allegheny County – Beechview Healthy Active Living Center, Brighton Heights Healthy Active Living Center, Caring Heights Community Care and Rehab, CYA - Stephen Foster Community Center, Morningside Healthy Active Living Community Center, Mount Washington Healthy Active Living Community Center, Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center, South Side Market House Senior Center, Vintage Senior Services
- Bedford County – Bedford Area Senior Center
- Beaver County – Center at the Mall, Circle of Friends Conway, Circle of Friends New Brighton
- Berks County – Berks Encore Strausstown
- Blair County – Altoona Senior Center, Northern Blair Senior Center, Williamsburg Senior Center
- Bucks County – Bensalem Senior Center, Central Bucks Senior Center, Middletown Senior Citizens Association
- Butler County Area Agency on Aging on behalf of the seven Senior Community Centers
- Cameron County – Driftwood Senior Center
- Carbon County – Jim Thorpe/Penn-Kidder Senior Center, Lehighton Senior Center, Weatherly Senior Center
- Centre County – Penns Valley Senior Resource Center
- Chester County – Brandywine Valley Active Aging, Surrey Services Devon
- Clearfield County – Clearfield Center for Active Living, Coalport Center for Active Living, Mahaffey Center for Active Living
- Columbia County – Bloomsburg Senior Center
- Dauphin County – Friendship Senior Center, Leader Center for Active Life
- Delaware County – Good Neighbor Senior Center, Wayne Senior Center
- Elk County – Bennetts Valley Senior Center, St. Marys Senior Center
- Erie County – Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC)
- Franklin County Area Agency on Aging on behalf of the eight Senior Community Centers
- Fulton County – Hustontown Senior Center
- Greene County – Waynesburg Center
- Jefferson County – The Foundry, The Heritage House, Punxsutawney Senior Center
- Lackawanna County – Fallbrook Senior Community Center, Hillside Senior Community Center, Mid Valley Senior Community Center, Scranton Senior Community Center, Taylor Senior Community Center, Throop Senior Community Center
- Lancaster County – Columbia Senior Center, Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center, Millersville Senior Center, Next Gen Senior Community Center
- Lawrence County – Challenges: New Castle
- Lebanon County – Myerstown Senior Center
- Lehigh County Area Agency on Aging on behalf of the 12 Senior Community Centers
- Luzerne County – Dallas Active Adult Center, Hazleton Active Adult Center, Kingston Active Adult Center, Linda Kohut Pittston Active Adult Center
- McKean County – Smethport Senior Center
- Mercer County – Greenville Senior Community Center
- Monroe County – Loder Senior Center
- Montgomery County – ACLAMO Senior Community Center, The Center at the Open Link, Encore Experiences in Harleysville, Jaisohn Wellness Center, Montco SAAC Norristown, Montco SAAC Ambler, The Peak Center in Lansdale, Salem Adult Citizens Center, Surrey Services Bryn Mawr
- Northampton County – Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, Northampton Senior Community Center
- Northumberland County – Herndon Adult Community Center
- Perry County – Central Perry Community Senior Center, Duncannon Senior Center
- Philadelphia County – KleinLife, Norris Square Adult Community Center, The Senior Center at Lutheran Settlement House, Star Harbor Senior Citizen Center
- Potter County ؘ– Oswayo Valley Senior Center, Ulysses Senior Center
- Schuylkill County – Diakon Community Services on behalf of county seniors
- Snyder County – Penns Creek Adult Resource Center, Selinsgrove Senior Center
- Somerset County Area Agency on Aging
- Sullivan County – Mildred Active Living Center
- Washington County – Bentleyville Senior Center, Beth Center Senior Citizens Center, Cross Creek Senior Center, McDonald Cecil Senior Center, McGuffey Area Senior Citizens
- Wayne County – Hamlin Senior Community Center
- Westmoreland County – Alle-Kiski Center for Active Adults, Avonmore Center for Active Adults, Mount Pleasant Center for Active Adults, New Florence Center for Active Adults, New Alexandra Center for Active Adults, Valley Center for Active Adults
- Wyoming County – Falls Active Adult Center, Wyoming County Active Adult Center,
- York County – Windy Hill on the Campus
Older adults who are looking for a Senior Community Center in their community can either contact their local Area Agency on Aging or visit the Department of Aging’s website.
Individuals can get a closer look at some of the ornaments by visiting the Department of Aging’s Facebook page.