Something for Everyone at the Senior Center

Ever wanted to try yoga? Or maybe you’d like to finally learn how to play the ukulele? Possibly your mother just needs help with grocery shopping? The can help the community with all of the above and more.

Located on Alameda De Las Pulgas across crom Beresford Park, the senior center, part of the city’s Parks and Recreation division, is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a plethora of activities and resources during these hours. 

“It’s a rec center basically,” said Hope Whipple, community services supervisor. “We wouldn’t be here without our volunteers.”

Whipple said the center has only three employees and the rest of the “staff” are volunteers looking to help the community.

Martha, who didn’t want to give her last name, runs the Shopping Assistance for Seniors who are Homebound program, or S.A.S.H.

“We do a lot in the city for children and families. This was our chance to do something for the seniors,” Martha said.

The program connects volunteers in San Mateo, Foster City, Burlingame and Hillsborough with homebound seniors, she said. Volunteers call each participating senior once a week to get a grocery list, then deliver the goods, without tips or mileage expenses.

She said the program is unique since all other cities in the county have canceled such programs due to budgeting issues.

“What we’ve set out to do is bring groceries. But, when you think about it, it’s more than that. It’s a weekly check-in with that senior," Martha said. The volunteer shopper, she added, "becomes their community resource."

One San Mateo senior, who wished to remain anonymous, said the service over the past year has been beyond helpful to her.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful service,” the local senior said. “I was so excited to meet my (shopper). She was such a delight and so helpful.”

The center has plenty of other in-house services and activities going on; some are free and some have a minimal cost.

Every Tuesday the center holds a Hawaiian music class from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., led by Paul Aea. Aea is from Hawaii and says he enjoys being able to play “songs from the islands.”

The group clearly enjoys their class. Sherry Reich said she loves just getting together with other people.

“We get to socialize at the beginning. We’re interesting people too, so it’s nice,” Reich said with a smile.

Aea mentioned that all are welcome and the group can informally teach others the ukulele if they don't know how to play already.

The San Mateo Senior Center is located at 2645 Alameda De Las Pulgas. A full schedule of the center's activities and lunch menus can be found on its website. For more information, call (650) 522-7490.