The Woodland Senior Enrichment Group will soon have a consistent home for its activities after the Woodland City Council approved a facility-use agreement on Monday, April 6.
The decision marks a milestone for the grassroots organization, which has quickly grown into a hub for community connection among Woodland’s senior population.
The group is approaching its two-year mark after forming in mid-2023. It was created in response to a community need for organized senior activities, and now offers a wide range of programming, including support groups, games, exercise and arts.
The agreement allows the group to use the Woodland Community Center at 782 Park St. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, marking a shift from its previous pay-as-needed rental arrangement. The group will pay $500 per month, providing insurance, under a one-year agreement running through April 5, 2027, with renewal options.
For Vice President Vikki Bunger, the change represents a major step forward in stability and accessibility.
“We’ve never had an agreement before,” she said. “We’ve just rented it when we needed the facility, so we rented the hours that we needed it. Now the facility is ours for three days a week.”
With dedicated space, the group plans to expand how seniors can engage, including offering open hours for those who may not attend structured events.
“We’ll be able to have people drop in if they want to without coming to an event, and we’ll have information available for food banks, transportation ... resources that they can get a hold of to help them with their day-to-day lives,” Bunger said.
The group will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on those days, a new level of consistency that organizers hope will reach more people.
“It’s always that we’re just here during certain events, so we’re hoping that that will bring in more people if they have just basic questions that we can help them with,” Bunger said. “And if they just need to come in and visit, they can.”
The agreement also makes logistics easier for organizers. Volunteers no longer need to set up and dismantle tables, chairs and their own materials daily. Instead, they can begin setup on Wednesday and clear out by Friday evening.
Organizers say the added consistency will also help address communication challenges, particularly among seniors who may not rely on digital platforms for information.
Alongside the facility agreement, the group also received a $4,000 award from the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), approved by the city council on April 6. The money will support community events, including the second annual Hometown Market.
“We’re going to use part of the fund … for our strawberry shortcake event that we put on during Planter’s Days to bring more people down to the park and just get more people involved with that,” Bunger added.
The Hometown Market, which debuted last year as a fundraiser, will return Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year, the event moves to the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens and will feature new attractions. The fundraising event was held at Woodland Middle School last year.
New this year will be an array of local musical talent, including appearances by Brandy Lyn, Sarah Rudy and Ailshie.
“We didn’t have any entertainment last year, so we’re adding that this year,” Bunger said.
The event is set to feature live music, food vendors and family-friendly activities, along with space for dozens of vendors from both the local area and out of town. Among the local participants will be Brian's Pizza Life, who will be tossing up dough.
The market serves both as a fundraiser and a way to bring the community together, supporting the group’s mission to keep activities accessible. The nonprofit raised about $1,500 from last year’s Hometown Market.
“We don’t charge for anything, other than some of our craft classes to cover the materials … and we never turn anyone away if they can’t afford it,” Bunger said. “Everything else that we do, including our meals, is free.”
Community funding supports outreach efforts, programming and operational costs tied to the community center, including rent and insurance. The group is currently seeking vendors for the July event. Vendor fees directly support programming for local seniors. Readers can learn more about the group’s schedule, events and vendor information at woodlandseniors.org.
