History

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In 1970 the Wilbraham Selectmen appointed the Council on Aging (COA) to serve Wilbraham’s growing senior population and in 1975 the Veterans Post #451, at the corner of Main Street and Tinkham Road, became Wilbraham’s first Senior Center! Five years later, the Center moved to Mile Tree School on Main Street. On February 20, 1985, the Friends of Wilbraham Seniors, Inc. was founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. Its mission is to raise funds to help support the needs of senior citizens and to assist in funding popular programs and activities.

In 1991, the Center relocated again, this time to the former Pines School on Stony Hill Road. In 2004, a section of the new Scantic Valley YMCA facility on Boston Road was rented for the Senior Center location. Although the square footage was smaller, it was a modern facility, which resulted in an immediate increase in attendance. By 2007 it became apparent the new facility was not sufficient to meet the needs of Wilbraham’s Seniors so the COA began discussing the need for a larger and more permanent location for the Wilbraham Senior Center.

In 2010, the COA approached the Friends, and then President Bob Page, to start raising funds, community awareness, and support for a new Senior Center. At Wilbraham’s Special Town Meeting on October 18, 2021, with an overflow crowd in attendance, 92% of the voters approved the construction of a new 15,554 sq. ft. Senior Center. Construction began on November 28, 2022, and an official Groundbreaking Ceremony was held February 10, 2023, at the new permanent site behind Wilbraham’s Town Hall at 240 Springfield Street.

What We Do

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The Friends of Wilbraham Seniors raises funds to support services, programs, and events run by the Senior Center, Wilbraham Council on Aging (COA) and the Friends. Recent fundraising efforts include sponsoring numerous dine-ins/take-outs at area restaurants, 50/50 basket and lottery tickets raffles, holiday bazaars, craft fairs, casino trips and other community events. Currently we are engaged in a major Capital Fundraising Campaign to raise funds for items and accessories needed in the new Center, such as furniture, tables, chairs, TVs and much more. In addition, the Friends have a Senior Assistance Fund where we support seniors who, as a last resort have been vetted by the social services coordinator, need one-time financial assistance with utility, heating bills, prescriptions etc. 

Our Meetings 

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We hold Membership meetings on Wednesday’s, four times during the year.

Our 2025 meetings are scheduled for January 22, April 23, July 23, and October 22.

Meetings begin at 1:00 p.m. and are held at the NEW Wilbraham Senior Center behind the Town Hall at 240 Springfield Street. The physical address for the Senior Center is 250 Springfield Street. 

Our Board of Directors (2024-2026)

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Photo by Charlie Bennett

Friends of Wilbraham Seniors, Inc. Board of Directors: Seated L to R – Dee Mitchell (Corresponding Secretary), Ann Marie Gaudette (Director), Lee Tyrrell  (Treasurer). Standing L to R – Matt Villamaino (President), Lisa Coolidge (Vice President & Fundraising Director), Kate Belsky (Recording Secretary), Deb Gormley (Membership Director), Pam Sonnefeld (Director).

Contact Us

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