Jane Good and Shawn Lewin of the Boothbay Region Health and Wellness Foundation brought exciting news to the Southport selectmen on Wednesday, July 22.

The foundation’s new senior community center will open its doors at the Meadow Mall on Route 27 within the next few weeks and the grand opening will be around Sept. 1.

Good and Lewin reported that a one-year lease starting Aug. 1 was signed last week for an office located between Boothbay Harbor Framers and the Family Dollar store in the space previously occupied by Bank of Maine.

The senior center will be free to all area seniors. It will run as a pilot program during its first year and funding will be provided by the foundation. The senior center has been discussed by the foundation for the past 1-1/2 years and a committee of five members was formed to explore options.

Three members of the committee visited the Bangor senior center, which Lewin knew from his previous residence in that area. He, Good and Margaret Perritt were given a tour of the Bangor center and they quickly realized that the same type of center would benefit Boothbay region’s seniors. Other members of the committee are Donna Morey and Ted Schmidt.

The community senior center at the Meadow Mall will offer a place for folks to meet their friends and neighbors and classes taught by volunteers.

“We don’t want anyone sitting home alone,” Good explained. “This will be a place where people can get a smile and a cup of coffee.”

In addition, the center will make its space available to other organizations as needed. Center hours are expected to be Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We will have two sign up boards for people,” Good said. “One will ask ‘What would you like to have here?’ and the other will ask ‘What can you provide?’ In this way everyone using the center will make it their own.”

The center is envisioned to be a place where seniors teach and help each other. As a result, volunteers and teachers may be area seniors who have an interest or expertise in a particular subject. Classes may include crafts, knitting, quilting, languages, cribbage and a variety of other subjects.

The foundation is currently looking for financial contributions to reach a goal of $36,000. In addition, donations of items to help furnish the space are sought. Needed items are: desks and chairs, love seats, game tables, end tables, lamps, bookcases and stacking chairs. The foundation is also hoping for a long table they can use for their board meetings and a microwave and refrigerator for the small kitchen.

Those wishing to donate money or items can do so by calling Jane Good at 207-633-2563 or writing to the Boothbay Region Health and Wellness Foundation at P.O. Box 335, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.