August at Community Action Senior Centers Ignites Purpose, Wellness, and Belonging

Moss Point Senior Center

Located in the heart of Moss Point, this center serves as a hub for wellness, social engagement, and education. Throughout August, seniors can enjoy chair exercise, basketball shootouts, and Wii games to stay physically active. There are also plenty of chances to connect over dominoes, spades, and card games.

This isn't just activity for the sake of movement. It's engagement with meaning, structure with heart, and fun that feeds the soul. The daily schedule at the Moss Point Senior Center is built around the idea that seniors deserve more than a place to sit. They deserve a place to thrive. Every morning starts with something physical, every afternoon includes something social, and every week brings at least one special event or guest that adds variety and excitement to the routine.

Rev. Stallworth leads regular devotionals that give participants a moment of reflection and spiritual connection. Walking and stretching sessions are scheduled multiple times per week, and balloon volleyball remains one of the most popular group activities at the center because it keeps people moving without putting strain on joints or muscles.

Signature Events This Month

• Arts and Crafts with the Jackson-George Library
• Picnic in the Park at Eddie Khayat Park
• Community Public Hearing
• Guest led programs from Mississippi Power, Aetna, and Humana
• Hawaiian Luau to close the month with celebration
• Bingo every Friday at 10:30 in the morning

The Picnic in the Park is a highlight every summer. It gives participants a chance to get outdoors, enjoy the shade at Eddie Khayat Park, and share a meal together in a setting that feels more like a family reunion than a scheduled event. The Hawaiian Luau at the end of the month brings themed decorations, music, and food that cap off August on a high note.

Guest visits from Mississippi Power, Aetna, and Humana provide practical value beyond entertainment. These partners bring information about energy assistance programs, Medicare options, and wellness resources that directly benefit the people in the room. It is education delivered in a comfortable, familiar setting where seniors feel safe to ask questions.

Ocean Springs Senior Center

Over at the WJC Center in Ocean Springs, the tone is calm yet purposeful. With a calendar rich in low impact physical activity, educational visits, and memory boosting programs, this center continues to empower local seniors through connection and care.

Every program here is curated with intention, to meet seniors where they are and offer a path to more strength, more clarity, and more community. Tai Chi sessions every Wednesday provide gentle, structured movement that improves balance and reduces the risk of falls. The Memory Café, hosted in partnership with the Ocean Springs Library, creates a supportive space for seniors experiencing memory challenges and their caregivers to connect, share, and learn together.

• Memory Café with Ocean Springs Library
• Tai Chi sessions every Wednesday
• Tech Day and trivia with Ashley from the library
• Birthday celebrations, Ice Cream Day, and themed activity sessions
• Penny Auction and special speakers from Humana, Woodman Life, Singing River Hospice, and the Mississippi Department of Health

Tech Day is one of the most popular recurring events at the Ocean Springs center. Ashley from the library helps participants learn to use smartphones, tablets, and computers at their own pace. For many seniors, this is the first time they have had patient, one on one support with technology, and the confidence it builds extends far beyond the center's walls. Staying connected digitally means staying connected to family, to health information, and to the broader community.

Health and wellness partners visit regularly throughout August. Representatives from Humana, Woodman Life, Singing River Hospice, and the Mississippi Department of Health bring presentations on topics that matter most to older adults, from understanding Medicare benefits to managing chronic conditions to planning for long term care. These are not sales pitches; they are community services delivered by organizations that care about the people in the room.

More Than Activities

Both senior centers also provide a nutritious congregate meal every weekday, prepared by Trio food service and designed to meet one third of daily nutritional requirements. For some participants, this is the most balanced meal they eat all day. Sharing that meal with friends makes it nourishing in more ways than one.

Transportation is available for registered participants throughout Jackson County. All CASOMS buses are ADA compliant with wheelchair and walker lifts, and rides can be requested at least 48 hours in advance. No one should miss out on the programs and fellowship at our senior centers because they do not have a way to get there.

Join Us This August

Both centers are open to adults ages 60 and older in Jackson County. There is no fee to participate, and donations are accepted but never required. New participants are welcome at any time. Registration requires a brief Consumer Information Form, an emergency contact, and a list of current medications.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the fellowship, fitness, and community that our senior centers provide, we encourage you to reach out. August is a great time to get started.