‘People have believed in this cause’: New Coleman Senior Center set to open by September

COLEMAN, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)- In May 2024, a couple of storms blew through the Coleman County area, bringing damaging winds, hail, and flood waters with them. The longstanding Coleman Senior Center was one casualty of that damage. Since that day, Coleman seniors and the area Meals-on-Wheels operation have had to find temporary accommodations at local churches. Senior Center Steering Committee board members Vickie Virden and Susan Casey told KTAB/KRBC that they are now on track to come back better than ever, thanks to community donations, including a new building to call their own.

“Everybody has been so generous with their money and their time and their ideas. It’s kinda contagious… People that we don’t even know have sent money,” Casey said.

Initially, that donor had asked to remain anonymous, but he couldn’t escape gratitude too easily. Darrin Black had moved to Coleman from Abilene at that time. Casey and Virden say he offered the property on the 400 block of Concho Street completely free. It was after this donation that Virden formed the Steering Committee, which is made up of a diverse group of 21 women from around Coleman County.

“Vickie formed this group, and it was like ‘yeah, we can do this.’ We want to do this for our community, our elderly. We have a real vision of what we want to happen here,” said Casey.

Virden said they hope to have phase one of the project complete by sometime in early September. Phase 1 will entail the completion of the interior common areas, commercial-grade kitchen, public stage and lounge area, and various other offices, showers, and utility rooms. Phase two will focus on the exterior design and landscaping.

“We are very, very excited about what it’s gonna offer… We just want this community to pull together and realize it’s for everyone,” Virden said.

The committee has set fundraising goals throughout the life of the project. Currently, the committee is just shy of reaching its goal. If you would like to contribute to the cause through financial or volunteer donations, all are encouraged to contact the board through the Coleman Community Senior Center Facebook page.