Senior Life Midland's new building has opened, marking a milestone for the organization. Midland Times was given a tour of the new facility.
Senior Life Midland, formerly Community & Senior Services, started in 1974 with the mission to cook, deliver and feed homebound seniors. The smaller original facility was a residential home that was donated by the Furhman-Vogel family, according to Executive Director Kathleen Kirwan-Haynie.
“Over the years we have outgrown the original facility, kitchen, and the parking lot,” said Kirwan-Haynie. “We’ve added eight additional senior programs that all require space.”
Several of the features of the new building have “touches” of the previous building including the seating area that features a copper fireplace topper from the original family home.
“The kitchen is twice the size of the previous one, with hand washing and sanitizing stations at both entrances” Kirwan-Haynie added. “A laundry room was added which eliminates the need for employees and volunteers to take turns taking dirty laundry home to wash,” she said.
Extensive built-in cabinets house Meals on Wheels delivery bags with room to grow, and state-of-the-art check-out stations streamline the delivery paperwork required by the Government, which was previously hand counted, Kirwan- Haynie told Midland Times.
Storage space was added for the other eight programs, including an automated shelving food pantry for the One Day at a Time Program and for fundraising efforts.
“Our deliveries are volunteer-based and several local companies and regular volunteers deliver meals daily,” said Kirwan- Haynie. “This week included Atmos Energy, Bynum School, Friendship House, Rockhouse and CBS 7’s Jay Hendricks,” she said.
According to Kirwan-Haynie, additional help is always appreciated. “We are always looking for additional volunteers,” she said.
The new facility took nearly two years from start to finish, according to Kirwan-Haynie.
The Senior Life Midland offices and kitchen were temporarily housed at Midland Health’s F. Marie Hall Outpatient Center - West Campus.
According to Stephen Bowerman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midland Health, the partnership will continue.
“While Senior Life Midland is exiting our FMH Outpatient Center and beginning operations in their beautiful new facility, we will remain steadfast partners for years to come with a like minded approach to caring for the senior population in our community,” Bowerman said.
For more information, visit https://www.seniorlifemidland.org
Seating area with copper fireplace topper
Kitchen area in new facility
Kitchen continued
Food Pantry- One Day at a Time Program
Meals on Wheels delivery bag pick up area
Diamondback Energy sponsored conference room
Atmos Energy delivery and cook volunteers
Front Bank cook and prep volunteers
Volunteer delivering meals to homebound seniors