MATEWAN — The Coalfield Community Action Partnership (CCAP) Sue Fullen Intergenerational Center in Matewan is open and welcoming seniors, according to CCAP Executive Director Tim Salmons.

“The center will provide seniors a place to go and socialize with other seniors,” Salmons said. “This aspect of community life has been missing in that area of the county.”

The center will eventually house a head start class as well, Salmons said. A foster grandparent program is planned for the fall.

Housing a senior center and a head start in same building has many advantages, Salmons explained. Not only does combining the centers afford opportunities for the social well being of those involved, but the fiscal side of this venture has also allowed for opportunities by combining funding.

“The Intergenerational Center has been possible due to the leveraging of funds,” Salmons said. “By combining a head start and a senior center in the same building, multiple funding streams were accessible and so much more could be done jointly than could ever be done separately. That cost-sharing aspect will continue in the daily operations as the combined costs will be shared equally and will result in a savings to both funding sources.”

Housing the senior center and head start center together opens the possibility for new programs that will benefit both children and seniors.

“The advantages of having an intergenerational center affords the opportunity for seniors and headstart children to interact on a daily basis.” Salmons said. “This interaction can be through routine daily activities or through the foster grandparent program which we plan to actively promote. We wanted to get the seniors and the children involved.”

CCAP plans to implement the foster grandparent program during the 2009-2010 school term.

“We felt that, with the school year nearing an end, it would be difficult for the kids to make a connection in just a few weeks,” Salmons said.

The center is currently offering several services for seniors, including hot meals, quilt-making, exercise classes and field trips. Plans for additional activities include line dancing classes.

“We have about 15 visitors a day,” Salmons said. “We hope to eventually have 20 to 30.”

Hours for the center are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 304-426-6622 or 304-235-1701.

CCAP operates weatherization, an in-home care program and seniors programs in Delbarton, Gilbert and Williamson as well as Matewan and headstart in Mingo and McDowell counties.