Phillis Wheatley Community Center (PWCC) founder, Hattie Logan Duckett’s mission in life was to help uplift those who were less fortunate, and the fruits of her labor are seen today in the activities and impact of the PWCC. This center has played a vital role in developing the social, economic, and artistic skills of the people of Greenville, South Carolina, for more than 100 years. It is seen also in the PWCC Community Senior Wellness and Development Program.
The Community Senior Wellness and Development Program
The Community Senior Wellness and Development Program is designed to meet the six dimensions of wellness – Physical, Social, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual and Vocational to promote and improve the health and quality of life of the senior citizens (aged 55+) within Nicholtown and other Upstate communities.
The program is voluntary and aims to serve as a baseline measurement to determine physical progress, evaluate residential needs, and serve as a reference point to participate in wellness and educational classes to assist in improving the overall training, flexibility, and independent lifestyle.
Program Support
There are several resource avenues and partnerships established through this program to aid in accomplishing the mission, vision and goals of the Senior Wellness and Development Program. Various businesses, corporations, foundations, and organizations are given the opportunity to assist with the success of the program and its participants. The business community is presented with the opportunity to support the Senior Wellness and Development program on several levels including general contributions, donations of time and materials, and opportunities to sponsor other PWCC programs and services.
The Community Need and Opportunity This Program Will Address
The Senior Wellness and Development Program is designed to collaborate with other programs and municipal and social service agencies to provide invaluable, structured learning opportunities for the rapidly growing senior population in the Upstate. The Phillis Wheatley Community Senior Wellness and Development Program is unique by offering:
- Increased physical activity through utilization of our upcoming senior fitness playground
- On-site in the PWCC kitchen healthy cooking and meal preparation courses and services
- Instructor led chair exercises
- Cognitive Exercises (memory, hand and eye coordination, meditation, etc.)
- Bingo with Prizes
Current Happenings with the Senior Wellness and Development
Program Weekly Senior Program
The core programming consists of weekly meetings with the seniors which involve various activities and events. Meetings occur each Friday from 10:00am to Noon.
Senior Fall Harvest Festival
A recent event for the seniors was the Senior Fall Harvest held on October 29, 2021. The seniors were transported to the office of a corporate, collaborative partner where they had the pleasure of playing games such as Bingo and Trivia and had the chance to win amazing prizes. They enjoyed a delicious lunch, took pictures, and overall had a momentous day being celebrated. Each senior also received a gift bag for their participation.
Senior Appreciation Holiday Luncheon
Another recent celebration was the Senior Appreciation Holiday Luncheon. During this luncheon we watched holiday movies, enjoyed a delicious lunch, sang Christmas carols, danced, played bingo, and won amazing prizes. Overall, each of the seniors had an amazing time and fellowship with one another.
Upcoming Workshops
Upcoming events in the Community Senior Wellness and Development Program consist of Medicare workshops, Social Media Awareness, Safety Awareness Classes, Financial Literacy, Conflict Resolution, and Effective Communication classes.
If you want to learn more about how you can become involved, volunteer, or a corporate sponsor of the PWCC Community Senior Wellness and Development Program, reach out to Tiffany Boyd, Program Manager at tjboyd@philliswheatleysc@org or 864-240-4242 x203.