This month the CFOC Nonprofit Spotlight features The Oneonta Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Center.
When the Oneonta Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Center opened its doors in September 2023, it brought a new type of community center to Otsego County. With an increasing senior population that now makes up 42% of our community, the Senior Council of Schoharie County decided to open a second location for their Gathering Place in Oneonta after being approached by Tamie Reed, Director of the Otsego County Office for the Aging.
“Staying active and engaged as we get older is critical to maintaining our physical and mental health,” Reed said. “The Gathering Place is a dynamic center that provides a diverse array of opportunities for adults to age well.”
After the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became more important than ever to be able to reach our seniors and to create a place where they can come for assistance and socialization, as well as developing skills to help them continue to maintain their independence. The Gathering Place gives our 50-plus community members a way to share their own knowledge and skills with a variety of people.
The Gathering Center has grown significantly since opening its doors. The current membership is over 1,500 at the Oneonta Center, with an overall membership for both Schoharie and Otsego centers nearing 2,800. The center offers an amazing array of programs and activities, including exercise classes, yoga, arts and crafts, a spa room (complete with a professional massage therapist!), a hair salon, educational presentations, and concerts and events for the community. A $2,500 award from the Community Foundation of Otsego County’s Fall 2024 awards cycle helped The Gathering Place focus on marketing, promotion, and communication, increasing awareness of these programs to those in need.
Through the work Kimberly Witkowski (Senior Council Executive Director and CEO), the Senior Council Board of Directors, and the Oneonta Advisory Board, The Gathering Place has become a community resource for support and assistance to help seniors continue to live active, independent, and healthy lives.
With its one-year anniversary approaching this fall, The Gathering Place in Oneonta has much to celebrate. Stop by and see what it’s all about.
Content provided by the Senior Council of Schoharie County, The Gathering Place (Oneonta).
The Oneonta Center is located at 5506 State Highway 7, Oneonta, NY 13820, and the phone number is 607-267-4732. The Center is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and closing at 4:00 pm on Fridays.
