Sometimes community organizations close down because of a lack of funding, or not enough interest. But when it comes to bingo and other senior activities in Clarksburg, Massachusetts, the main problem is aging.
Shirley Therrien, 82, is vice chairman of the Clarksburg Council On Aging. She said that as of the end of the month, the group is disbanding.
“We were 14 members at one time and now we're down to five,” Therrien said. “And we just lost one. We went to her funeral yesterday. And nobody's coming to take our place.”
Therrien said the group needs younger seniors from Clarksburg, age 60 and older, to volunteer.
“Our oldest person is in their late 90s and we just can't do this anymore,” said Therrien.
The board used to hold monthly breakfasts, guest speakers, picnics, Halloween and Christmas parties. Now, it’s mostly bingo. And this may be the last game.
“OK, now we're going to play criss-cross corner to corner for 10 dollars!” said bingo caller Pauline Ellsworth, 73, to the crowd.
Clarksburg has about 1,600 people. But the bingo players are mostly from towns nearby — including North Adams, Florida, and even towns in southern Vermont.
On this day, about 30 seniors were seated at long tables hunkered over bingo cards.
“I 29!” Ellsworth called out.
Some come for the chance to win a few dollars. But most come to be with people.
Marilyn Daub, 82, from North Adams — a retired Sprague Electric inspector — said that without this twice-a-month gathering, it's going to be tough not seeing her friends.
“Lot of people I have known all my life. So this is the only chance I get to see them,” Daub said.
For people who have lost spouses, it's a time to be with others.
Dorothy Greenlaw, 70, said she comes to talk and listen.
“Finding out what's going on in other people's lives and all that,” Greenlaw said. “It's a way to get things off your chest, if you have no one else to talk to. I'm a widow. I've been a widow for more than 20 years.”
Just last fall, Clarksburg hired a senior center director. It's not clear yet how her job will change, or what will happen to the senior center building.
Shirley Therrien is still hopeful younger seniors will step forward.
“We're praying for a miracle,” she said.
