The proposed closing of Northampton Senior Center, scheduled for June 18, has ignited an avalanche of reactions from an assortment of patrons, their friends, the Grace United Church of Christ consistory and congregation and the community. The program, previously financed by Northampton County Area Agency on Aging, was cut from the 2026-27 budget, ending June 2026 with the fiscal year.

The Northampton County Area Agency on Aging has given the Northampton seniors the option to join the Cherryville senior group. Co-coordinators of the Northampton center Dorothy Fegley and Jean Faust have voiced opposition to this plan.

“Many of our seniors walk to this location (at Grace UCC). It’s close enough for them to walk to other stores on Main Street once they are here,” Faust said. “The road to Cherryville has many hills and curves. The few seniors that do drive are not comfortable on that road.

“Secondly, there is a bathroom issue at the Cherryville location,” Faust added. “You need to walk through another room and then share the bathroom with the daycare that is also located in the building. The room they meet in is small, and they don’t have the selection of activities that we have here. Lastly, we don’t feel as if we are welcome there.”

The concerns raised by Faust were echoed by many other Northampton seniors.

Lori Stanton-Lauley, Northampton County Area Agency on Aging administrator, and Kim Nichol, senior center service director, attended a meeting April 29 at the Northampton center.

Fegley said, “Many attendees felt frustrated after the meeting. Many of their questions went unanswered, and the county people were not very helpful.”

Subsequently, Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski has been to the center twice to speak with attendees to help find a solution.

Attendees have a personal and emotional attachment to this center. When Faust’s husband passed away 18 years ago, she “needed a purpose, somewhere to go and be with people.” What started as an afternoon visit became part of her daily routine. She started attending daily with her mother, who had dementia. After her mom passed, Faust kept attending.

Dave is an 89-year-old who walks to the senior center every day. He lives in the borough and doesn’t drive anymore. He said he fears that without this center, he will be sitting at home alone. Dave appreciates that “this place is safe and accessible.”

Don also walks to this center. He said he has reconnected with people he knew 70 years ago because of this program.

Tess and Lonnie said they met at the center and are now engaged to be married.

These are only a few of the stories and lives positively affected by the senior center.

Grace UCC Consistory member Joan Matura supports the senior center and questions why funding cuts specifically affect this site. The senior center in Nazareth has already closed.

“Lehigh County has the same issues, and they aren’t closing any centers,” she said.

Matura joined senior center attendees at a planned protest opposing the closure May 19 across the street from Grace UCC.

Seniors have strongly opposed the closure of the center and are actively searching for a solution. Rumors of an anonymous donor have given members a small measure of hope.

The center’s success goes beyond daily lunches and snacks, many of which are provided by attendees. It also offers nutrition classes, exercise, yoga, bingo and card games.

“We keep track of each other — everyone matters,” Don said.

“It’s my happy place — food, games and, most of all, the company,” Faust said. “I hope we don’t lose this.”