“Five, four, three, two, one!”
Cheers and applause filled the air as residents laughed and rattled party blowers, celebrating the countdown from launch striking zero.
On Saturday, the City of Coppell launched Village Collective at the Coppell Senior and Community Center. Developed by the Future Oriented Approach to Residential Development Task Force and supported by city leadership, the new initiative connects residents 50 years and older with volunteer support, social opportunities and local resources.
“The program lets them know that they are not forgotten,” City of Coppell code compliance officer Bruce Lowe said. “It keeps the community looking beautiful. It improves the community as a whole.”
Citizens and volunteers gathered at the launch party to learn more about the program and celebrate the city’s effort.
“It is a good idea to have senior residents helping senior residents,” Coppell resident Brenda Mahar said. “It is a good way to interact and meet other seniors. As I get older, I notice that social activity is important as you age and keeps your mind more active.”
City leaders spent more than 10 years researching options, gathering input and developing a plan that would best support seniors who wanted to stay in their homes.
“When I first got elected into the city council, we were really worried about what we were going to do with our senior population,” Mayor Wes Mays said. “I am so excited to provide this for our seniors.”
Village coordinator Jessica Eychaner, lead organizer of Village Collective, is proud to see the idea come to fruition.
“It is a little surreal,” Eychaner said. “It was really hard to get it together, so being able to see it actually happen and see people really excited about it and willing to participate is exciting, because I could not do it on my own at all. We need both those members and volunteers to make anything happen.”
Village Collective plans to expand in the coming years in its memberships and services.
“I see the numbers growing, the connections to be growing and the impact to be really shown,” Eychaner said.
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