AMHERST — Monthly gatherings of senior citizens, organized in part by the Council on Aging and Friends of the Amherst Senior Center, are taking place at locations around town.
On Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m., the next Meet & Greet will be held on the patio at Atkins Farms Country Market, 1150 West St., while on July 30, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Inn on Boltwood Tavern, 30 Boltwood Ave., will be the site of the next Senior Sips.
“The purpose of both of these things is to foster a sense of community among seniors,” says Dennis Vandal, president of the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center.
The idea of having events for senior citizens off site from the Bangs Community Center, where the Senior Center has been located since the 1970s, came about over the past couple of years as a way to reinvigorate the aging population, some of whom have challenges getting to and from the Bangs. While the building is located in the heart of downtown, and next to Clark House and Ann Whalen Apartments, parking can be a challenge, both in finding a spot and in having to pay for it.
But Vandal said the idea for the Meet & Greet and Senior Sips came mostly from the continued fallout from the pandemic. “COVID did a lot of damage, and we’re trying to break that log jam,” Vandal said.
The Bangs is also undergoing renovation and there have been some changes to the space configuration, though senior programming has continued without interruption.
The Meet & Greet events, which began in 2025, coincide with a day when Atkins offers a 10% discount to those 65 and over. Usually about 20 or so people come to that event, held when the weather is nice. Coffee, tea and apple cider doughnuts are provided for free to those who drop by.
Even more people have made it out to Senior Sips, which started this year and has brought folks to Protocol and Amherst Oyster Bar, downtown restaurants, 3 Amigos in the Mill District and the Commonwealth Restaurant at the University of Massachusetts.
Vandal said these events, with support from the Amherst Business Improvement District and Amherst Neighbors, have meant an opportunity for people to try out places they might not otherwise go. Organizers provide some snacks and people can purchase their own alcoholic beverages before mingling with others.e their own alcoholic beverages before mingling with others.
