Monday, May 25, 2026 the Brookline Senior Center will be closed for Memorial Day. There will be no transportation or food services available that day.
Friday, June 19, 2026 the Brookline Senior Center will be closed for Juneteenth. There will be no transportation or food services available that day.
On April 15th, the Brookline Senior Center celebrated at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event. Wendee Glick, on vocals, and Steve Heck, on piano, provided lively entertainment, while volunteers enjoyed a catered lunch from Wegmans. Director Emily Williams welcomed all volunteers and guests followed by Council on Aging Chair Yolanda Rodriguez, who spoke about the value of participation on the Board and its subcommittees. Yolanda also led a moment of silence for deceased volunteers.
Volunteer Coordinator Valerie Graf greeted attendees and highlighted the “starfish story,” emphasizing how every act of kindness and each volunteer effort makes a meaningful difference. She also introduced a plaque to be displayed on the first floor in honor of Vivian Freeman, Brookline Senior Center’s first Volunteer Coordinator.
Supervisor of Services Julie Washburn announced a large and diverse group of nominees for the Volunteer of the Year Award, reflecting the many ways individuals contribute to the Senior Center. Nominees included Jill Black, Eric Bloom, Mark Chadbourne, Clara Chin, Nancy Collins, Marcia Goldstein, Tara Greaney, Hermia Hall, Ann Harshman, Pam Hitchmoth, Kathryn Kilpatrick, Soo Moy, Fran Perler, Sandy Silbert, Zipora Vainstein, Allen Waxman, and the entire Newsletter Mailing Group.
Valerie then announced Hermia Hall as the recipient of the 2026 John & Molly Dolan Volunteer of the Year Award. She recognized Hermia’s 15 years of dedicated service to the Brookline Senior Center, including her work with the pre-pandemic Food Distribution program, setting tables for the Springwell daily lunch program, collecting donations, supporting both the Annual Summer Sidewalk Sale and Annual Holiday Craft Fair & Rummage Sale, watering plants, assisting with mailings, and staffing the Gift Cart several days each week.
Emily presented the 2026 Community Service Award to the Brookline Library Putterham Branch in recognition of their collaboration, generosity and shared commitment to serving older adults. Ginger O’Day, the Putterham Branch Library Manager, accepted the award and expressed appreciation for the partnership with the Brookline Senior Center.
Emily also presented the inaugural Advocate of the Year Award to Yolanda Rodriguez for her tireless advocacy on behalf of the Brookline Council on Aging and Senior Center.
Select Board representative to the Council on Aging John VanScoyoc offered words of appreciation for all the volunteers and spoke about the vital role they play in supporting the community.
The Volunteer Appreciation Event concluded with a lively raffle benefiting the Brookline Senior Center, along with the distribution of beautiful plants for all volunteers, from Olympia Flower Store.
We are proud to introduce our newly published booklet, Valued Volunteers of the Brookline Senior Center. This publication highlights nearly a decade of our amazing volunteers, a sampling of hundreds of our volunteers, both past and present. You can stop by the Brookline Senior Center to get your copy. If you know someone who should be featured for our ongoing Valued Volunteer articles, please reach out to Valerie Graf, Volunteer Coordinator, at vgraf@brooklinema.gov or 617-730-2743.
The SHOP (Students Helping Older People) Program, a collaboration between the Brookline Senior Center and the Brookline High School (BHS), has been a community service club at BHS for over 25 years. Students are paired with seniors to assist with grocery shopping throughout the school year. In addition to providing practical support for seniors, this program also offers high school students valuable life skills. Not only do they hone their grocery shopping skills, it creates opportunities for students and seniors to exchange stories and life experiences, fostering rich intergenerational conversations. These connections often evolve into meaningful, long-lasting relationships, benefiting both the students and seniors involved.
If you are a senior who would like to learn more about the SHOP program, please contact Valerie, Volunteer Coordinator, at 617-730-2743 or vgraf@brooklinema.gov
CLICK HERE to watch a video to learn more about the S.H.O.P program and how it benefits both students and seniors.
The REAP program is designed for Brookline residents aged 60 and older who wish to remain engaged and active in the community while in retirement or partial retirement. Limited additional program opportunities may also be available for individuals aged 55-60. The goal of this program is to enhance the retirement experience by connecting participants with either part-time paid or volunteer work in the community or at the Brookline Senior Center (BSC).
To enroll or for more information, call 617-730-2767 or email Vivian Williams at vwilliams@brooklinema.gov.at vwilliams@brooklinema.gov.
If you have a special interest area or expertise that you would like to share with the Senior Center, please reach out to Valerie Graf, the Volunteer Coordinator, at 617-730-2743 or vgraf@brooklinema.gov to learn more about creating and facilitating a new program at the Senior Center.
If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, or think there’s something missing here, please let us know!