Students volunteer to support Brewster-area Senior Center

From left, Building Committee Chair Mike Mauk, Treasurer Charlene Knox, Thrift Store Committee Co-Chair Rose Holder, and President Klair Lowrey stand in front of the new 10’ x 16’ storage shed on its alley site along the west side of the Senior Center.

MIKE MALTAIS/WARD MEDIA

Proposed interior shelving for the new storage shed will make individual bins easily accessible.

MIKE MALTAIS/WARD MEDIA

The metal roof on the storage space attached to the south side of the Center building needs attention to stop water leaks.

MIKE MALTAIS/WARD MEDIA

Posted Tuesday, March 4, 2025 5:36 pm

By MIKE MALTAIS
Ward Media Staff Reporter

BREWSTER – Students from the Bridgeport and Pateros school districts are volunteering their time and skills to support maintenance and improvement projects at the Brewster-Bridgeport-Pateros Senior Center. The initiative, announced at the center’s Feb. 26 meeting, includes painting, storage organization, and repair work.

Center Treasurer Charlene Knox connected with Bridgeport students during the city council’s February meeting, where high school junior Luis Herrera-Sanchez, the council’s student representative, asked if the center needed assistance.

Knox invited the students for a weekend project to paint one of the Center’s interior walls that has been on the maintenance to-do list since 2024.

In January, Knox reached out to Pateros School Superintendent/Principal Scotti Wiltse about involving woodshop students in volunteer projects at the center. After Wiltse approved the request, Knox began organizing schedules and materials.

Woodshop students will help organize the interior of the center’s newly acquired 10’ x 16’ storage shed.

“We are looking at building a rack system for the storage building,” said Knox passing around a photo and explaining the design that will allow easy access to individual storage bins.

“If you want a bin on the bottom, you do not have to unload the other bins sitting on top of it,” said Knox. “It just slides out.”

A fenced area next to the shed will be added to hold drop-off items.

A second older storage space attached to the main building needs attention as well. The metal roof has loose sections that allow rainwater to enter. The students will help clean the interior and seal the roof.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to work with the schools to get some of the kids involved,” said Center President Klair Lowrey.

In other business:

Discussions on new property lines for the parking area are progressing with the adjacent building owner.
The center has secured annual donations from Brewster, Bridgeport, and Pateros.
The board is still considering security door cameras.
Members can submit suggestions for basic computer and smartphone skills classes.
Signups are open for $15, 15-minute massage chair sessions starting March 11.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media