Alabama nutrition centers celebrate 50 years

News

Thursday, 05 October 2023 08:53

The 50th anniversary of the opening of the first nutrition center in the state of Alabama was held in Scottsboro on September 26. The event was held at the Scottsboro Nutrition Center/ Scottsboro Scottsboro Senior Center, which was the first center in the state of Alabama.
Fifty years ago, the opening of this nutrition center marked a new way of life for hundreds of senior citizens in Jackson County. Two years later, in 1975, the homebound meals program began. The first volunteers to deliver meals throughout our county were the staff of the Community Action Agency.

Mrs. Rita Williams Glasz played a vital roll in beginning both of these programs. Glasz worked hard and coordinated getting surveys completed, gathered and sent in to receive grant money for the program. In the beginning, the program served hot meals to Jackson County senior citizens three days a week. Glasz realized that in order to feed more seniors, transportation was needed. She applied for and was granted additional funding. This funding was used to purchase two mini vans that were used to transport seniors to the nutrition center for meals.

Over the past 50 years, our nutrition center has grown tremendously. The program is extremely important to our senior citizens. Throughout Jackson County, there are six senior centers, including Stevenson, which opened in September 1973; Paint Rock, which opened in October 1977; Bridgeport, which opened in October 1977; Pisgah, which opened in March 1978; and Bryant, which opened in October 1996. Each of these centers serves meals to our seniors and provides activities to keep their minds sharp. Important information is also provided to seniors including state health information, legal aid information, transportation information and educational information.

Volunteer opportunities are available at each center throughout Jackson County.

by Heather Dohring