Jewell County Senior Center has new manager

Jewell County Senior Center has a new manager, Gail Lynn Neilson, a resident of Mankato. She started her new job on Jan. 21. Neilson took over the manager position in relief of Phyllis Briggs, who has been interim manager for several months.

Briggs offered to fill in as temporary manager until a permanent replacement was found. Briggs is still strongly connected to the center, as she expects to serve casually to fill-in as manager, as needed.

Neilson is mother to Samantha, age 25; Riley, age 23; Deja, age 22; Coe 19; and Annabelle, age 8. She also has grandchildren: Gracin age 10, William age 6, and Daxx, age 10 months. 

Neilson is the granddaughter of Harlow Vader, an active senior who frequents the center. Vader told his granddaughterabout the job opening and she decided to apply. 

Sammie Nance is the cook for the Senior Center. She is assisted by Susie Scott.

The senior center serves mostly seniors in the community who request meals to eat at the center most weekdays Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until noon. To help the staff prepare in advance, call in the morning by 9 a.m. the day before your request, preferably or by 11 a.m. the previous day if possible.

Calling ahead is important for planning purposes in order to cook or prepare the correct number of meals and helps the staff plan food resources accordingly. The Senior Center can be reached most weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 785-378-3385. 

For those seniors who may have difficulty in getting to the center because of transportation or other concerns, a hot meal can be delivered to their home by a volunteer. Deliveries begin around 10:30 a.m. in Jewell County, on weekdays. Contact Neilson at the Senior Center for more information.

Volunteers from churches in Mankato and other volunteers deliver meals to shut-ins or those who cannot leave their homes, but still desire to be served a hot meal midday.

For those seniors over 60 years of age who want to come to the center for meals, the meals are $4 each and for those under 60 years of age, the cost per meal is $7 each.

Those seniors who come to the center, find there are activities and opportunities for interactions and fellowship with fellow seniors, as dominoes games are played many weekdays.

Some seniors enjoy scheduled Bible study available on a weekly basis. There are card games sometimes also. Neilson has additional ideas she is considering and would like to hear from seniors about their ideas for activities at the center.

The Community Center can be rented for group meetings, wedding receptions, and other events by contacting the Mankato City Office.