Our Community Center is the gateway to all that St. Mary’s Center offers for seniors. We offer healthy meals, individual support and group activities and classes that promote the social, emotional and physical well-being of our members in a positive, inclusive, drug-free environment. 

What’s happening this month? For our latest activities, classes, and meal menu see our Member Newsletters. 

Food and Nutrition | We support the well-being of members by providing healthy breakfast and lunch throughout the week and holding nutrition and cooking activities and classes. Please see how to Donate Food and Meals here. Our Voluntary Contribution Policy: All non-members under 60 must provide $1.00 per meal. All contributions are voluntary and service will not be denied to those who do not contribute. Contributions help pay for food costs and are confidential and not tracked.

Senior Wellness Promotion | Our staff implement senior friendly practices to respond to individual needs and help reduce the effects of chronic poverty. Our Bi-lingual Wellness Coordinators work with members in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese. They perform comprehensive assessments through in-home visits, considering the members’ ability to perform daily living activities. They share strategies to prevent injuries by removing tripping hazards and how to use exercise to improve balance including activities such as Bingocize and Tai Chi For Arthritis. In partnership with the members, they address barriers to healthy living including medical, food, transportation and financial issues as well as addiction, emotional and mental health challenges including offering classes such as W.I.S.E.  

Cultural Events | The center hosts drug and alcohol-free events that celebrate history, diversity, culture and build community among our members including Lunar New Year, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Earth Day, Mother’s and Father’s Days, Juneteenth, Independance Day, Thanksgiving and December holidays and Hoover-Foster Neighborhood event. 

Computer Literacy | Our “We Connect” classes teach members the fundamentals of computer use and navigating online resources to support their daily living. Through a partnership with Everyone On each participant receives a laptop free of charge upon completion of the class. 

Field Trips | Staff organize free trips to local museums, parks, gardens and senior-related conferences and gatherings utilizing the City of Oakland transportation services for seniors. 

Individualized Case-management | Members aged 60+ and permanently housed but needing additional assistance to support their daily living can enroll in individual case-management. This begins with a comprehensive assessment of the members’ social, emotional, mental and physical health. In partnership with the members our case managers will develop individualized care plans and help with activating and coordinating publicly available services. There is a periodic reassessment and revision of the care plan as needed. 

Substance Use Disorder Counseling | We provide individual and group education and counseling to members seeking support with alcohol and drug addiction including evidence-based Smoking Cessation program. 

Voter Information | In addition to being a local polling center we offer voter information and organize candidate forums for special and general city, county, state and national elections. 

Advocacy and Leadership Development | Our Senior Advocates for Hope and Justice Program informs and infuses all our work. Members engage in social justice activities that enrich their lives with purpose and influence policy at all levels of government. They share their lived experience in campaigns that preserve and build affordable housing, increase income stability, and decriminalize homelessness. Our “Council of Elders” are the leaders in our community who provide feedback and recommend solutions that improve and expand our services and activities and help foster an environment of inclusion that dissolves stereotypes, reduces stigma and isolation. 

Our programs are funded by the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging, Alameda County Health, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care with support from the Alameda County Community Food Bank and Mercy Brown Bag.