Local nonprofit Battle Ground Senior Citizens Inc. (BGSC) and the Battle Ground School District have partnered to expand a monthly cellphone class helping local seniors stay connected in an increasingly digital world.
The collaboration launched last week on Monday, Jan. 26, when over a dozen students from Battle Ground High School and Prairie High School joined seniors at the Battle Ground Senior Center for hands-on, one-on-one assistance. The classes take place on the last Monday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the senior center, located at 116 NE Third Ave. Other volunteers were present during last week’s workshop.
Battle Ground Senior Citizens Inc. has hosted the cellphone workshops for about six months, previously relying on student volunteers from Seton Catholic. While the program proved popular with seniors, inconsistent volunteer turnout made it difficult to meet demand.
“We needed the reliability because sometimes what would happen is we would have 36 to, you know, 40 seniors show up, but there would only be maybe five of us volunteering,” BGSC Board Member and cell phone workshop lead Megan Anderson said. “If the student count was less than what Seton could bring with them, then we didn't have as much support.”
Anderson said partnering with the public school district helps ensure more students are available to answer individual questions. The goal of the class goes beyond technical skills. Anderson said the workshops help seniors feel connected and reduce isolation, especially for those whose friends and family live far away.
“Making seniors feel more connected, you know,” Anderson said. “We live in a very digital world and most of them adapt wonderfully, and this class really helps them do that.”
She said pairing seniors with students also creates meaningful interactions across generations.
“Any time that we've ever connected seniors with the younger generation, it's always pretty magical to see what happens,” Anderson said. “So it's a great way to keep everybody connected … Sometimes it’s more than just answering their questions about their cellphone. Sometimes it’s just hearing about their day or their week or their cat or whatever it may be.”
Carol Lake, a senior who moved from Texas to Battle Ground about 10 years ago, said the class has helped her maintain relationships with friends she left behind.
“Facebook is how I communicate with them, mainly that's how I keep up with what's going on in their lives,” Lake said. “I am totally tech illiterate. I’ve learned how to use my phone about the time it's time to get a new one.”
Lake said student volunteers have helped her navigate challenges she struggled with on her own.
Anderson said feedback from seniors has been overwhelmingly positive, noting that even small lessons can make a big difference.
“It’s always very heartwarming to see the smiles when they leave,” Anderson said. “What seems like a basic question to me is life-changing in some ways for them.”
The school district has confirmed it will continue sending students to assist with the classes on the last Monday of every month, according to BGSC.
