The South County Senior Center recently conducted its annual Senior Prom fund-raising event

More than 70 area senior citizens enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of live music, dancing, prizes and dinner. The event was topped off with the crowning of Prom King Walter Bradford and Prom Queen Hilda Lammert. More than $2,000 was raised to benefit the center’s meal program.

The South County Senior Center is one of 29 multi-purpose senior centers offered by the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging. Senior centers serve as the link to services and assistance for adults 60 and older within their community.

The South County Senior Center provides a comfortable gathering place for seniors to socialize, enjoy activities, have a hot, nutritious meal and receive health screenings, according to a news release.

Home-delivered meals are available to eligible homebound seniors. Transportation can be provided to and from the center and grocery shopping.

The center does not charge a fee for any of the services or programs offered, however, participants are encouraged to make a minimum contribution of $2.

“This center is the best thing to happen to me. Don’t think this is a boring place with folks just sitting around, playing cards, we do all kinds of fun and interesting things. I’m in my 80s and I attend every day. It makes me happy and keeps me going. And the food is wonderful,” Anna Wynne stated in the release.

“We all love coming here. Our manager, Pam (Guest), truly cares about each of us. She puts her heart into everything she does for us,” Ray Unger stated in the release.

“Make no mistake, our center participants are very active. I can hardly keep up with them sometimes,” Guest stated in the release. “They’re like family to me and I just want them to be happy.”

The center in the Occasions Hall building, 9451 Gentry, Lemay, is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and serves a hot, nutritionally balanced meal at 11:45 a.m. Other activities include indoor bowling, trivia, singalongs and auctions. Live music is provided on Thursdays and Fridays by the center’s volunteer band, the Mello-D’s.

For more information, call 544-7190.