By Greg Ellison

(Dec. 9, 2021) Roughly 50 members of Berlin’s 50plus Center are teaming up on a pair of holiday donation drives to aid homeless people, as well as animals sheltered at the Worcester County Humane Society.

Kelly Jenkins, site supervisor at the Berlin 50plus Center, said the center on Old Ocean City Road is operated by the Worcester County Commission on Aging.

In addition to Berlin, the Commission on Aging also operates 50plus locations in Ocean City, Snow Hill and Pocomoke. The organization also conducts Meals on Wheels, an adult day center and a senior ride program.

Jenkins said the Berlin spot had been tagged as a senior center.

“We decided to change our name to 50plus,” she said. “It means that you’re 50-plus to be a member.”

Since taking the reins in September 2019, Jenkins has worked closely with Program Coordinator Mary Conway.

“When I first came, they were in the process of changing the name that used to be the Worcester County Senior Center,” she said.

The 50plus Center, which operates from Monday through Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., attracts two to three dozen people on any given day.

Jenkins said an even larger number of members are on board with a pair of holiday donation drives currently underway.

“Every other month we have meetings with our members,” she said. “At our last meeting, some of our members decided that they wanted to give back to the community by making donations.”

To get the spirit of giving flowing, the group agreed to assemble care packages for the homeless.

“Personal care items and some people will be donating different clothing items, such as mittens and hats,” she said.

Once assembled, the care packages are being dropped off at the Atlantic United Methodist Church on Fourth Street in Ocean City.

“They have the soup kitchen,” she said. “We’ll donate some of the packages to them and they’ll be handing them out on days that they’re open for the soup kitchen or when they have the really cold nights.”

Also concerned about four-legged residents, Berlin 50plus members launched a donation effort for the Worcester County Humane Society.

“They have been bringing in different food and care items for pets,” she said. “Even some blankets and towels, because we know that they need it when they come to the shelter.”

Jenkins said to add a dash of festivity to the Humane Society campaign, members transformed a large cardboard box into a Yuletide-themed dog house.

“One of our members [Cheryl Dale] is very artsy,” she said. “She did some painting on the box and we have little puppies hanging out of the windows with the top open to actually drop donations in.”

In addition to gifts for furry friends from Berlin 50plus members, the group also garnered support from nearby Concord Pet Foods & Supplies on Old Ocean City Boulevard.

“The manager there gave us two bags of items from Concord Pets to put in our donation box,” she said.

Jenkins said the animal shelter drive was welcome news to Jessica Summers, who manages the Humane Society facility.

“I asked her if they were accepting and she said, ‘Absolutely,’” she said.

Both charitable endeavors are also yielding dividends for participants, Jenkins said.

“It makes them feel that they’re still a part of helping people,” she said. “One thing that seniors really miss is being the helper in the family and not always having to depend on other people.”