By Dave Simondet, Program Coordinator, Whitney WithOut Walls, St. Cloud, MN

The Whitney Senior Center, funded by the city of St. Cloud, MN, has been in existence since 1977. Over the years, the center has expanded to meet a rapidly growing older population in the area. It currently includes 24,500 square feet and operates at close to 95 percent capacity. Given a projected increase in the senior population, the need will be for up to 65,000 square feet in 20 years.

To address this challenge, the city—with the help of a grant from the CentraCare Health Foundation, the Clearlake Lions Club, and Sherburne County—initiated a program in October 2006 called “Whitney WithOut Walls” (WWOW). The goals were to bring Whitney Senior Center programming to an underserved area of the city; to relieve programming pressures at the permanent center; to assist those having financial, transportation, or mobility problems that prohibit use of the permanent facility; and to improve the physical and mental well-being of participants.

The Whitney Center then partnered with the St. Benedicts Senior Community Center in Southeast St. Cloud to offer programs and services in a community room at the Benet Place Senior Apartments. The classes and programs are open to any senior residing in the St. Cloud area. Some of the activities offered include Enhance Fitness, a low-cost, highly adaptable exercise program; Ask the Nurse; and bluegrass, country, and gospel music.

The WWOW program has received several awards and just received a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation to initiate another program on the east side of St. Cloud.

For more information, contact Dave Simondet.

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