The Wasilla Senior Center Program started in the basement of the Wasilla Museum in 1978 as a drop-in center. The center was a part-time program that was under the direction of the Salvation Army Senior Citizens Program. In a
short time the center had grown and by September of 1980 the Center was offering
luncheons and the occasional social activity in the vacant rooms of the
old Wasilla
Elementary School. In the
summer of 1981 the Senior
Center was moved to Big Lake Elementary
School due to increasing need for instructional
space. 1981 also saw a $400,000 legislative appropriation combined with $75,000
from Mat-Su Borough and $20,000 from the City of Wasilla to build a permanent structure on 3
acres of land donated by Frank Smith. The official name of the center was chosen
to be the Floyd
D. Smith Community Senior Center in memory of Mr. Smith’s father,
who had homesteaded the land on which the center was built. While the structure
was being built the Senior Center was housed in the Sacred Heart
Roman Catholic Church. In 1981 the Wasilla Area
Senior Center, a non-profit corporation was
formed to provide the members with a legal entity and single voice in the local
political arena. In addition WASI provides direction in the day to day
operations and coordination of services.
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