By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

VANDIVER – Seniors from Vandiver and Sterrett enjoyed food and fellowship at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church on Dec. 9.

Edna Weldon, a member of the Vandiver Civic Center Board, told the 50-plus seniors the Shelby County Commission awarded the Vandiver seniors with more than $400 for senior activities.

“They’re so impressed by what we’re doing in Vandiver,” Weldon said. “We got a senior center on our first try for the $400,000 grant. We’ll have a nice building out there, and we’re going to break ground in the spring.”

Weldon said when the Civic Center Board took over the senior activities, the board members realized the area’s senior citizens needed a place to meet.

The seniors’ group started with only 30 seniors, but in November 2011, about 130 residents participated in activities.

“We’ll easily be in the (new senior center) building by Christmas,” Weldon said.

Weldon said she donates her time and efforts for the seniors in the area because she gets “so much happiness” out of helping the seniors have fun in their “later years.”

“We’re moving forward in Vandiver,” Weldon said.