After four years as a shuttle bus driver, Sandi Hegge has taken on a new challenge: Activities Director at the Sweet Home Senior Center.
While Hegge loved her job of driving Linn Shuttle’s LBCC express route, she said she went through some changes in her private life and God opened up this opportunity for her.
Now she staffs the desk at the Senior Center, plans entertainment and activities for center members and creates content for the monthly newsletter and 55 Plus.
“I enjoy everything about it,” Hegge said. “I enjoy the creative part of the newsletter. I’m a people person. I love being at the desk and greeting people and encouraging them.”
Manager Ken Bronson was glad she was interested when he posted the job opening.
“She’s a perfect fit for us,” Bronson said. “I didn’t have to train her.”
Hegge has driving and office experience, he added.
Former activities director Monica Hoffman left to take a position with the Oregon Employment Department but had a chance to work with Hegge briefly.
“Sandi is an amazingly, creative woman, with a huge heart for improving the lives of those around her,” Hoffman said. “Our senior center is an asset for our seniors in the community and I know her personality will influence others to be a part of an amazing group of people.”
One of her responsibilities as activities director is, of course, to plan activities.
“I love to travel, I love to see new things so I love to have the opportunity to introduce new things to people,” she said.
Since she started in February, Hegge has gone on two group trips. Both of them were planned by Hoffman.
“I planned things ahead so our seniors would not miss out on the fun excursions,” Hoffman said. “A few days before my last day, Sandi showed up ready to learn the position; I was so thrilled. Ken, Joyce, Sandi & I all knew this was all part of God’s major plan for the Senior Center and everyone involved.”
The most recent excursion was to the tulip festival in Woodburn.
“Next month we’re going to the (Antique) Powerland Museum,” Hegge said. “The car and motorcycle museum will be open when we’re there and they have a general museum for the general history.”
Hegge hasn’t been to the museum but spotted it while searching online.
“Because of other things I’ve been involved in, I really want to do things that the men are interested in as well,” Hegge said. “So I came across that and was pretty excited about that.”
Normally she doesn’t put the sign-up sheets out too soon, to avoid clutter on the front desk, but she’s had several requests for this one already.
In August, she’s hoping to take seniors on a day trip to Salem’s Riverfront Carousel and the Willamette Queen riverboat.
In addition to the day trips, Hegge wants to plan local outings and in-house events.
“Next month, we’re doing a hat contest at one of our meals,” she said. “In June we have an antique car group coming in.”
Hegge wants people to know about all the activities going on at the center, so she dedicated a corner of the newsletter to feature different groups and activities.
“For a dollar a month (the Senior Center membership fee), you can’t find entertainment quite as reasonably priced,” she noted.