The South County Senior Center for Active Living marked an important milestone in December 2025, completing our first full year of operation!
Opening our doors with a clear mission of connection, support, and enrichment, the Senior Center spent the year building programs and partnerships. By the end of 2025, we had delivered more than 340 programs and welcomed nearly 2,000 participants, reflecting a strong community interest and engagement.
The Center shares space with Vicksburg United Methodist Church, 217 South Main Street in the village downtown.
The year 2025 was about laying a solid foundation by creating a welcoming space with meaningful programming and strong social opportunities that will continue to grow.
Wellness and fitness programs made up the largest share of offerings, with 235 classes and more than 1,100 total attendances. Weekly activities included Cardio Drumming, Chair Yoga, Beginner Pickleball, Functional Fitness, and a Walking Group. To meet growing demand, the Senior Center purchased 15 additional cardio drumming kits, allowing up to 30 participants per class.
Creative and educational opportunities also flourished. Through a partnership with Vicksburg Arts, The Senior Center hosted two art classes each month, featuring classes such as watercolor painting, UV resin and beaded jewelry making, clay work, and seasonal centerpiece designs. We also held four music concerts in collaboration with Vicksburg Arts, drawing enthusiastic audiences. Music offerings included Vicksburg local favorite BenJammin, Kalamazoo Concert Brass Band, The Early Dawgz Jazz Band from Vicksburg High School, and The Boogie Woogie Kid.
Monthly Lunch & Learn special events provided educational opportunities on topics ranging from Cybersecurity Awareness presented by Kalamazoo County State Bank and the Better Business Bureau and Healthy Hearts to local history, Aging in Place, and community initiatives. A new sewing group, the South County Stitchers, joined the program lineup and quickly became a popular gathering for creativity and camaraderie.
The Senior Center strengthened regional ties through collaborations with several organizations, including Western Michigan University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which offered a nature photography class and a music-based educational class. We also hosted evidence-based programs such as Matter of Balance and Mind Over Matter in partnership with the Portage Zhang Senior Center, while the Kalamazoo Area Agency on Aging presented a three-part Dementia Caregiver series.
Behind the scenes, Senior Center Coordinator Sherri Martin and volunteer Advisory Council members worked to build essential infrastructure, including Advisory Council leadership, instructor resources, and marketing and grant reporting processes.
The South County Senior Center is generously funded by the Vicksburg Foundation, the Kalamazoo Foundation, and the senior millage. We also depend on community support to bring high quality programming at no cost or low cost for art classes.
With a strong first year behind it, the Senior Center is excited to continue expanding impact in 2026 and serving as a trusted resource for South County seniors aged 55 years plus. The Senior Center will continue to offer weekly classes including health and wellness classes, special events and art programming. We are especially excited to collaborate with Dr. Katie Grossman this year, who will be presenting a new Lunch & Learn Series titled Healthy You. This 6-part series will cover the Six Pillars of Healthy Living and will include healthy snacks, a recipe demonstration, and important information about improving health and increasing health span. We also plan to run a senior tech help class soon and have upcoming art classes on card making and miniature gardens. We would love to have you join us!
Check out all the South County Senior Center for Active Living programs at the QR Code link below:
For more information or to register for SCSC Programs, call Sherri Martin at 269-720-0974 or email: smartin@southcountycs.com. Visit southcountycs.com for the most up-to-date programming.
