The Nezperce Senior Citizen organization was started in 1975 to provide meals, entertainment and services to area seniors. Meals are provided at a low cost to seniors and occasionally visiting family members.
Meals are served twice a week, Monday and Thursday. Weekly menus are posted in the Lewis County Herald and on the Nezperce City web site calendar. Business meetings are held once a month and officers are elected annually. Entertainment – music and/or bingo – is provided occasionally. Also, during the winter, senior exercise classes are held. Pinnacle is played on Saturday evenings during the Fall, Winter and Spring months.
FREE Fit & Fall Proof Exercise Classes: These are geared for seniors (but anyone wanting to participate are welcome) that would like to improve their balance, that would like to increase their range of mobility and that would like to have a fun time while toning and strengthening their bodies. Instructors are Sue Justesen, Lynette Schlader, Mary Jo Hoene and Janice Higuera, they are all certified and trained to select those exercises that are geared to better health and fitness.
Exercise classes are Monday and Thursday – 7:30 – 8:15 a.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Deb Merica – 208.799.0379, Public Health Idaho North Central District or any of the instructors.
Also available – Seniors’ Lending Shed:
For your convenience to make arrangements for borrowing item, or returning items, contact Liz Hess or Gayle Foster.
Items available are:
Walkers
A variety of crutches
Canes
Wheel chairs
Toilet seats & raisers
Shower and bathtub aides (i.e. tub safety handles)
Boots in medium & large
The Lending Shed has been helpful to many around the prairie when they need a piece of equipment for a time & having to buy it. Items are free of charge to anyone who needs them. We do ask that you return them promptly and in good shape.
History of the Senior Center:
In the beginning there were 49 charter members. The first meetings started with potluck dinners and Pinochle as a popular game. With the help of Area Agency on Aging in Lewiston, they began meeting at the Nezperce Hotel where a dinner was served. The next step was to rent the Christian Church basement and hire a cook. This was an excellent place, except they were limited on their activities…. no dancing, no cards, and no Bingo.
The Seniors tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a lease with the Grange, Fair Board, or American Legion to use one of their halls with the Seniors paying for the remodeling to comply with government regulations on serving Seniors.
The present Senior Center finally found a home. The Brethren Church, built in 1912, was an active church for many years. The Assembly of God bought the Church and held services until the membership declined. They gave the church to the City of Nezperce. The basement area became the new home for the Seniors. The remodeling came in two phases, with grants of $89,140 and $81,750.
With much donated labor and materials, the Nezperce Senior Center is now a beautiful facility with a light, airy dining and multipurpose room. The kitchen has birch cabinets, a dishwasher, two cook stoves, two refrigerators, and two freezers, all for the convenience of serving meals twice a week.
The Senior Center has been used for weddings, receptions, birthday celebrations, family dinners, bridge clubs, garden clubs, etc. It is rented for a very nominal fee.
The Seniors are very proud of the center and they owe a debt of gratitude to all persons who have so freely given of their money, materials and talents to make this center a lasting legacy for Nezperce.
The sanctuary of the church is now an auditorium for plays, meetings, etc. A local theatrical group, The SRO (Standing Room Only) Players, staged(s) many plays there, the area is now used for a variety of different venues – the 4-H style review;?????