The ASCA center is a very important part of area Seniors lives. Many members come to the center each and every day. They come to eat lunch, socialize with friends and often spend the rest of the afternoon engaged in activities offered at the center. No matter what activity they enjoy, the underlying importance comes from socialization and being valued. Overwhelmingly, the comments come back to friends, no matter why they come, they make friends that care about each other and that alone gives them purpose.

In the 2005 Outcome Measurement survey of members, improvement with physical and mental health as a result of participation in activities was reported time and time again. One woman reported, “ASCA has been a Godsend to me since my husband died 3 years ago. I have no family here. Other than church and the grocery store, this is the only other place I go.” The preventative value of interrupting isolation of seniors cannot be praised enough.

ASCA provides a hot nutritious noon meal 365 days of the year in a large and beautiful facility owned by Amarillo College and the members are very proud of it.

ASCA Staff and Board of Directors are also making plans to accommodate the upcoming ‘baby boomer’ generation who are presently becoming membership age. Studies have shown that the ‘baby boomer’ generation will require more mental stimulation. A Baby Boomer Focus Group has been organized to determine what activities would motivate this group to join ASCA. Currently, more activities, seminars and events are being scheduled for evenings and weekends to accommodate this group. ASCA records show 95 new members since January and a majority of them are a younger age group who participated in these activities for the first time.