Enriching Life in Later Years – Services for Yakima Seniors

Many of the same reasons that make the Yakima Valley an ideal location to raise a family create a haven for life in later years.  Along with the strong sense of community that comes from living in a smaller town, the Valley delivers the type of first-class healthcare and thriving arts community you’d expect to find in a larger city.  Add 300 days of sunshine, year-round recreation and a host of amenities and special services for seniors and you have a rich, fulfilling lifestyle for Yakima’s retirees.

Yakima Valley Senior Centers

As in any community, senior centers throughout the Valley create the cornerstone of Yakima’s senior scene.  Aside from simply providing a place for older adults to engage with one another and with their communities, senior centers foster independence and provide resources and opportunities for life enrichment.  From hosting social events and activities such as dances and potlucks to providing meeting places to share special interests through participation in clubs and groups, local senior centers provide abundant opportunities for community connection. Local senior centers also offer tools for living, such as fitness classes designed specifically to meet the health needs of older adults, classes for computer and other life skills, art and craft classes, health workshops and screenings and other resources.

While most senior centers offer similar services, some are equipped to provide a broader range of activities and assistance. The Harman Center, Yakima’s newest addition to senior living, features amenities such as a lounge, classrooms, a computer room, a billiards room, a television room, library and a healthcare suite. In addition to the usual offerings, they offer extensive programming for Valley residents, including a wider range of art classes and a full calendar of club meetings, special activities and outings.

The Grandview Senior Center also offers a particularly well-rounded array of services and leisure activities, including a Senior Club, dances and potlucks. If you don’t find a senior center in your neighborhood, check out local civic and community centers for senior services.  For instance, the newly remodeled Selah Civic Center offers senior fitness classes, yoga and ballroom dancing and hosts the Senior Silver Set (509-697-8171), an opportunity for seniors to connect with others. You can also participate in water aerobics through Selah Parks and Recreation.

The Harman Center in Yakima — 509-575-6166

Grandview Senior Center — 509-882-9230

Union Gap Senior Center — 509-248-2668

Sunnyside Senior Center — 509-839-4220

Wapato Community Center 509-985-7500

Selah Parks and Recreation — 509-698-7300

Additional Resources

Looking beyond the wealth of services provided by Yakima’s senior centers, you can find a range of enrichment activities throughout the Valley. Make the most of Yakima’s climate and outdoor amenities, such as extensive trails for walking, bird watching and photography. Play a round at a local golf course or hit the river for an evening of fly fishing. Join one of Yakima’s many clubs, such as the Quilters Guild, Vintiques car clubs, bridge and dance clubs and prospecting, rockhounding and gardening clubs. Visit Allied Arts for additional art, craft and theater classes and check out the YWCA and the Yakima Athletic Club for more senior fitness classes.

Enrich life in the later years with programs that celebrate lifelong learning in many forms. Connect with others who share your interests by enrolling in continuing education and other college courses offered to Yakima’s 60+ population at greatly reduced rates or at no cost. Audit college courses at Central Washington University in Ellensburg (509-963-1111) or at the Deccio Higher Education Center in Yakima (574-6894). Through the Gold Card Program at Yakima Valley Community College, take classes for a minimal fee or participate in community service classes covering a wide range of topics (Grandview Campus, 882-7000 and Yakima Campus, 574-4600).

Yakima’s healthcare organizations also offer a wide range of resources for Yakima’s seniors. In addition to fitness and health education classes, the Third Age program offered by Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital provides a wealth of information through their Third Age Alive newsletter, discounts and special programs such as grown-up driver’s ed.

Yakima Regional Cardiac & Medical Center, along with other local healthcare providers, provides Valley residents with Innovaging, A Guide for Seniors. This comprehensive publication offers contact information for local services and resources. In it, find topics related to healthcare, finance, and living life fully in later years. Among other information, the publication provides listings for clubs and service providers.

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Naches Heights Awarded Viticultural Area Designation

Yakima Valley vintners and wineries are celebrating another reason why the region is a premier location for growing wine grapes.  Recently the federal government approved the Naches Heights American Viticultural Area (AVA) north of Yakima and the fifth such designation within Yakima County.

Encompassing over 13,000 acres, the Naches Heights AVA features Pinot Gris and Syrah vineyards intermingled with apple and cherry orchards.  Located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range the federal government sited several characteristics that make this growing area unique.  In addition to its higher elevation, ranging from 1,200 to 2,100 feet, the area sits upon a volcanic rock formation that is located northeast of Naches.  On its western edge is a 3,578 foot ridge which serves as protection from the Pacific winter storms and preserves its volcanic rich topsoil.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the AVA’s soil is some of the oldest and most nutrient rich in the Yakima Valley.

According to David McFadden, president of the Yakima County Development Association, “The designation of the Naches Heights AVA is the fifth viticultural area in Yakima County out of 12 in Washington state.  This underscores the region’s reputation as a premier area for growing grapes and making wine.”

The Spirit of Giving – Yakima Youth Voluntarism

This time of year, donation boxes at Yakima Valley schools fill with collections of food and warm winter clothing as students embrace the opportunity to help those in our community who find themselves in need.  Yet the spirit of giving among our younger generations doesn’t stop there.  As with the Valley’s adult populations, the importance of community service and voluntarism runs strong with Yakima Youth.

Community Service from Season to Season

While the holiday season tends to raise awareness about community need, students in the Valley rise to the challenge year-round, lending their time and energy to assist organizations that offer support to members of our community.  While most Yakima Valley high schools mandate community service in the form of required volunteer hours, students frequently go above and beyond the minimum.  In fact, youth volunteers at Memorial Hospital provide almost 5,000 hours of service each year.

Rather than mandating service hours, some local schools take a different approach, incorporating community service as an integral part of education.  For instance, at La Salle High School, the spirit of service is viewed as a natural extension of each student’s growth as opposed to a requirement.  “They’re service oriented by nature and see it as something that is normal and necessary rather than as something they have to do go get something,” says Kevin Jam, Director of Campus Ministry.

Other schools adopt in-class service projects throughout the year.  At Montessori of Yakima, Betsy Martin guides her students as they develop and complete their own projects, such as making scarves for the homeless.  Students at St. Joseph-Marquette are helping with the Red Cross Holiday Letters For Heroes project by making homemade Christmas cards that will be sent to men and women serving our country abroad.

Whether meeting service requirements or not, Yakima youth can find volunteer opportunities no matter the season, from aiding families in crisis, mentoring children with special healthcare needs and helping with blood drives, to helping those with disabilities and elders with fall or spring yard clean up.

Finding The Right Fit

For those seeking the perfect volunteer opportunity, keep your availability and limitations in mind.  Most of Yakima’s nonprofit organizations depend on their volunteers to keep things running smoothly, so youth volunteers should take care to commit only to opportunities that fit their schedules, interests, and skill sets.  Some types of community service require more extensive time commitments or more hands-on participation than others.

Students with busy schedules may want to consider organizing one-day group service projects to make a big impact in less time.  Others may want to look for organizations that have a variety of needs and offer a little more flexibility.

For instance, the Yakima Valley Red Cross welcomes youth volunteers at all levels of participation.  “People might not realize that we’re 97% volunteer driven,” says Lisa Reinhart, executive director.  “We’re screaming for youth participation and they can help with just about everything from office work or responding to emergencies with the Disaster Action Team (DAT) or special projects such as the Holiday Letters for Heroes.”

Service in The Valley

For youth volunteer opportunities, consider helping these and other local organizations in need.

Yakima Valley Red Cross  Assist with office work, help with check-in or in the canteen during blood drives, respond to emergencies with teh Disaster Action Team, participate in a special project, or even coordinate your own project.  Contact Lisa Reinhart, 509.457.1690

Salvation Army  School groups can adopt families to meet their needs over the holiday season.  Click here to email their volunteer coordinator.

EPIC  Students 16 and older can assist with a number of projects, including painting murals or classrooms to adopting special projects.

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital  Youth volunteers ages 14 and older commit to a minimum of six months or 100 hours to help as information desk assistants, office assistants, gift shop assistants, child care assistants, or with wheel chair round-up.  Those 16 and older can fill one of more than 50 positions as a hospital volunteer.  Students who meet requirements can apply to the YouthWorks Council to become an advocate and make a difference in the future of healthcare for Yakima youth.  Volunteers 13 and older can become Children’s Village One-to-One mentors, helping children with special healthcare needs participate in recreational activities they would not otherwise have access to.  Kids On The Block volunteers provide puppet presentations to educate kids about disabilities.

Volunteer Chore Services  Help with yard work, house painting, or other chores for Valley elders and those with disabilities.  Groups with an adult leader are preferred.

Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity  Volunteers 16 years and older can assist with specific home-building projects

Camp Prime Time  Families are welcome to help with work parties to help open camp in the spring.

Yakima Valley Libraries  Help with book sales, English and Spanish translation, and with special projects and activities.

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