As the heat continues to press down on Gresham, Oregon, locals are seeking refuge and connection at the Gresham Senior Center. According to an article on Multnomah County's website, patrons like Lori Pear flock to the center not only for air conditioning but also for a warm community atmosphere. "I come here for socialization, to get a meal and also because there’s air conditioning here," Pear told Multnomah County.
Located on 600 N.E. Eighth Street, the center has been serving East Multnomah County for close to six decades, offering a variety of services that extend beyond a cool space during sweltering days. From meals to a suite of educational and recreational activities, the facility works to mitigate loneliness among seniors, which Scott Harden, the Program Director of the center, suggests can be as damaging to health as alcohol and smoking. "The center is a place where seniors from around East Multnomah County go to avoid isolation, increase companionship, and connect with people outside their home," Harden explained in a Multnomah County article.
With multiple days of high temperatures predicted, strategic planning is key for people like Pear, who plan their day around staying cool. She outlines a regimen including water aerobics and time spent at the senior center to maintain comfort and hydration. For others, too, the center offers a host of activities to take their mind off the heat, as another regular Dawn pointed out, mentioning the gardening club and bunko as examples of the variety available. "Fortunately I can get out, but if I could not get out, I would take what’s going to help you stay cool like a cooling towel and put it around your neck," Pear suggested to the county’s news service.
The Gresham Senior Center opens its doors to those over 50, from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., according to county reports. Located just a few blocks from the air-conditioned Gresham Library, the center integrates seamlessly with other local cool spaces listed on the county's hot weather resource site. Renee Curtis, emergency manager with Multnomah County, emphasizes the disproportionate impact of heat on older adults, stating, "Heat affects everyone but we know that heat does not affect everyone equally." Curtis further remarks on the value of community efforts in providing resources like cooling kits, water, and air-conditioned common spaces for those at higher risk.
At the heart of this, beyond staying cool, is the profound sense of community that has grown among attendees, as shared by Pear. "This group has been together for one year and we all sit together at the same table. It’s like eating at an expensive delicatessen." Her words capture the essence of what these centers provide — not just a refuge from the heat, but a space where support and connections flourish.
