Senior centers in Spokane can be a lifeline to the people they serve, offering everything from games to classes to meals. But like everything else, the senior centers are shut down, unable to offer any services as they struggle to do what they can for the people who normally come in their doors every day.

“All the centers have closed their doors to their members,” said Lisa Rosier, executive director of the Southside Community Center.

Rosier said she and other senior center directors are in frequent contact via email. They’re all using skeleton crews to have someone in the office during the day to answer the phone in case someone needs help getting medicine or groceries. Rosier said her center has a van and a small bus that it can use to bring supplies to people.

The center is using weekly emails to keep everyone updated about when programs, classes and day trips might resume.

“We have over 600 members,” she said. “We’re calling them to check on them. They’ve appreciated the phone call. People are bored.”

The center has a small library and people can still arrange to borrow books and puzzles while the center is shut down. But it’s not just boredom people are struggling with, Rosier said. They don’t have anyone to interact with.

“The center is really their lifeline for socialization,” she said. “It can be devastating for members, particularly if they don’t have family nearby. We’ve told them we’re here for them.”

Though the doors are shut to the public, Rosier has offered the facility to other community groups. “We have a big, huge commercial kitchen here,” she said.

A new organization called Helpful Plates will start using that kitchen to cook meals that seniors can pick up at the Southside Community Center or have delivered. The organization can be contacted by calling (509) 216-6423 or emailing helpfulplates@gmail.com. Costs will vary depending on the items ordered.

But while Rosier and her staff are focused on helping their members, they’re also worried about the future of the center. “Like all the centers, we’re nonprofits,” Rosier said. “We’ve had to push back our fundraising efforts.”

There’s already been a financial impact. The center has laid off two part-time employees, leaving only a handful of paid staff. The longer the shutdown continues, the higher the chance more staff members will be laid off.

“We have to keep looking at the budget,” she said. “We want to keep people on as long as we can.”

It’s not just seniors who have been impacted, since the center also doubles as a community center. There are children’s karate classes and SAT study classes for teens. On an average day, about 200 people walk in the front door, Rosier said.

“It’s certainly quiet,” she said. “We miss our members. It’s a family.”

With the cancellation of events at the center comes the loss of rental income the center uses to operate. That includes the cancelation of several weddings scheduled for April.

“That’s devastating, too,” she said. “We feel for those couples.”

Still, Rosier is trying to stay positive and do what she can to help.

“Like everybody, we’re doing the best we can,” she said. “We’ll get through this. We’re united.”

Though things are difficult now, Rosier is hopeful that good will come from it.

“A community united will become stronger,” she said. “I think that’s what this has done for us.”