SPANISH FORT, Ala. — While Spanish Fort doesn’t have a senior citizens center, seniors are welcome to participate in many activities at the Daphne Senior Center.

The Daphne Senior Center — located at 2605 U.S. Highway 98 — has activities for adults 60 and older who live in the Daphne area.

“We have residents come from all over Baldwin County, even as far as Orange Beach,” Judy Jerkins, volunteer at the senior center, said. “It’s just a great place to come for lots of fun activities.”

Lunch — beginning at 11:30 a.m. — is served Monday through Friday. The program is available not just for eating, but also socializing. Eighty meals are served daily and a $1.50 donation is accepted. “The food is always so good,” Posie Howell, of Daphne, said.

During a Sun reporter’s recent interviews with Spanish Fort municipal election candidates, most said getting a senior center is a top priority.

Until then, Spanish Fort residents are invited to attend the various activities and trips the Daphne Senior Center offers.

During art classes — held every Monday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. — visitors learn the basics of paints and acrylics.

Classes are led by art instructor Mary Ann Lee, who also teaches art at the University of South Alabama Fairhope campus.

“I’ve always done art since I was little,” Lee, who taught art at Fairhope High School for 16 years, said. “I believe anybody can learn art.”

Center regulars were at Monday’s art class, during which Lee briefed them on basic skills and techniques used for paint brushes. Each class is different and Lee said they just “go with the flow.”

The art class participants took time away from their work to discuss the center’s perks.

“We have just become good friends and have bonded,” Lee said. “We like to get together and talk about our problems and art. We also talk a little about art history.”

The center this fall will bring back craft classes, Lee said. During these classes attendees can learn bead work, along with how to make wreaths and quilting methods.

Such activities can help a senior citizen stay active, supporters said.

“If we didn’t have this we would probably be at home watching TV eating M&Ms and ice cream,” Howell said.

The fitness center’s senior single membership costs $10 per month or $12 per senior family. Family fees include the husband, wife and children under 21 living in the same household, according to the center’s pamphlet. Those who attend the center and are not Daphne Recreation Department members can use the facility for $2 per day.

The fitness center is open Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The fitness center is closed on Sundays.

The senior center has special nights where members play bridge, Texas Hold ’em and bingo, and watch movies, take field trips and work out with aerobics.

“Scrabble is really big here,” Cauley said.

Field trips are frequent and visitors say they have been to the Fairhope Museum, Gulf Coast casinos, W.O. Lott Park in Daphne and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Participants at the center say they look forward to attending an upcoming performance of the play “Gypsy” at the Joe Jefferson Playhouse in Mobile.

Casino trips to Biloxi cost $15 per person. The next trip is planned for September. Advance payment is required.

For more information on activities held at the Daphne Senior Center call Mary Jensen, senior program coordinator, at 251-621-3703.

Daphne Senior Travelers also plan trips for seniors throughout the year. The travelers plan to go to southern Italy and Sicily, take a Martha’s Vineyard cruise and a bus trip to Branson, Mo. Contact Judy Jerkins at 251-945-5616 for more information on senior travels.