From art and creative groups to athletic activities, seniors have gained independence through daily activities at Bastrop Senior Center for nearly 30 years.

The backstory

President Kathy Metcalf said the center opened with the purpose of creating activities for seniors to continue participating in the community. The organization has grown to serve more than 390 members in 2024.

The impact

The center offers nearly 20 activities, including chair volleyball, chair yoga, bingo, line dancing, a crafters group, a quilting group, a painting group and more, as stated on its website. Metcalf said the senior center has a team that meets monthly to think of new activities to offer.


In addition to activities, the center hosts drives for members on a need-to-need basis and offers rides to doctors' appointments and grocery shopping. To participate in activities, seniors must pay a membership fee of $25 a year.

“We [make an] impact by helping the community [when] we can and the community helps us by bringing us events that we can help with so we feel useful,” Metcalf said.

More details

Local organizations frequent the center to help seniors with various skills including the Peer Assistance and Leadership group, or PALS, from Bastrop ISD hosting a tech class every Friday.


Metcalf said the center periodically hosts community events open to all including the Empty Bowl Project, Kitty Bingo and the Bastrop Mardi Gras Dance. With her 13 years of experience at the center, she said the people are the best part.

“Charlie Carman and his wife Leola started the center way back and it's evolved to what it is now so I think the people are the best memory,” Metcalf said.