Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
September 12, 2001
Catholic Charities assists seniors
Mulroy center provides fun, food, friendship, members say
By Laurie Dunklee
Many older adults in Denver have no family and few resources. This can be a lonely time for seniors and could be dangerous, too, if they have no one to turn to in case of an emergency.
Catholic Charities' Mulroy Neighborhood Center is here to help. The Mulroy Center, 3550 W. 13th Ave. (near Lowell Boulevard), targets the needs of seniors by offering food and fun at the neighborhood center. Seniors meet at 9 a.m. for a variety of activities, including exercise classes, games of bingo, crafts, quilting and gardening. The Volunteers of America delivers a hot meal at noon each day. Seniors also enjoy monthly group field trips. The group has from 20 to 50 attendees, some of whom have been attending for five years or more.
"It's a place where I feel welcome and appreciated for who I am," said member Eloisa Perez.
The center concentrates on the needs of Latino elders by providing an atmosphere conducive to Hispanic cultures. Most of the volunteers are bilingual. Each month the center holds a potluck for the seniors and their families. Guests are invited to share their favorite Latin dishes for this fun social occasion. A bingo tournament is held and prizes are awarded to the winners.
"This program is something I look forward to attending every Tuesday and Thursday for inexpensive fun and good company," said member Margie Salazar.
Seniors' special needs are addressed through the center's case management program. Services include transportation to medical appointments, home repairs, help with filling out paperwork, and providing food baskets.
"Many of our members are low-income and have little education," said Mary D. Bergstrom, senior adult coordinator at Mulroy. "We help them meet basic needs and we speak up for them if necessary."
The Mulroy Center was built in 1970 as part of the Westridge high-rise residences for low-income seniors and the disabled. The center was named for Msgr. John R. Mulroy, appointed by Denver Bishop J. Henry Tihen to begin a "Catholic Charities" in Colorado in 1925.
Bergstrom said the greatest need of most seniors is an opportunity to socialize with people in their age group.
"Other seniors understand where they are, what they've been through," she said, adding that the center needs more volunteers and another van for field trips.
Seniors are invited to join the group. The Volunteers of America provides transportation for people to Mulroy, Bergstrom said.
"This is a wonderful bunch of people. They are models for me as I grow older," she said.
For more information about how to join Catholic Charities' Mulroy Center's program, or to volunteer, call Mary D. Bergstrom at 303-892-1540.
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