YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – Yuba City Councilman Wade Kirchner gave a big thumbs up for purchasing new Yuba City Senior Center Bingo equipment.

Mayor Shon Harris pulled item 9 from the April 2 Yuba City Council meeting consent agenda to say a word before adopting a resolution awarding the purchase of bingo equipment for $23,760 from California Bingo Service of Richmond.

"We want to thank our senior center folks for all their hard work and dedication behind it," Harris said of the successful Friday night bingo at 777 Ainsley Ave.

"I haven't made it over there yet but I hear it is extremely popular and expanding, and this new equipment will allow you to have folks in the overflow room to get an accurate count of the numbers," Harris said.

Calling the purchase "very good," the mayor noted how the senior center is not just about Bingo but much more. Harris pointed out Community Service Director Ann Gillen, who said Gillen "took that baton and ran with it.

"I have seen you there a few times when I have been there, too, and it's just always a positive environment," Mayor Harris said. "It's a fun, definite feather in our cap for our community and I just want to take the time to thank you all for all that."

Handing over comments to council members, Vice-Mayor Dave Shaw spoke first.

"Just to echo the mayor's comments, what you are doing over there is incredible," Shaw said. "It reaches far beyond our city, so, again, thank you guys, and thank you, Ann, for grabbing the bull by the horn."

According to Shaw, the most thanks go to the seniors at the center daily, dedicated day in and day out to make the location a success, who he is "honored to help."

"Good times for sure," Mayor Harris said before officially authorizing the purchase.

The Territorial Dispatch contacted Gillen, who humbly accepted without speaking, to learn more about the equipment. 

"It became necessary to update our older bingo system in order to accommodate our growing attendance, requiring an additional room set-up," Gillen said. "With a second room opened up, additional equipment is required so that all participants can play along and enjoy the game equally."

In searching for bingo equipment, Gillen said, it became evident that it changed over the last several years.

"Bingo equipment has evolved, and our older, outdated system is no longer manufactured, also making it difficult to support when we have parts breakdown or need to be replaced," Gillen said. "We have participants that attend from all over the region who look forward to bingo every Friday night, so it's very important we keep everything up to date and operating efficiently so that we can continue to offer this program for our seniors.

Like the mayor, Gillen said the center offers much more than bingo.

"There is a lot of data that connects loneliness and social isolation as a contributing factor to serious health conditions such as heart disease, depression and cognitive decline, especially for seniors who live alone," Gillen said.

According to Gillen, mental, physical and emotional health, and well-being are directly related to social engagement, which creates a sense of belonging and purpose.

"Our community benefits from seniors who are very active through volunteering in our community," Gillen said. "The Senior Center provides opportunities for seniors to get involved, make connections, socialize and stay active."   

The Yuba City Senior Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Bingo is every Friday night; sales open at 4:30 and close at 5:50, with a $10 buy-in. Games begin promptly at 6 p.m. For more information on programs, visit in-person or find information on our website www.yubacity.net/community/senior_life.