(Photo via Mercy Endeavors Senior Center)
The Mercy Endeavors Senior Center is one step closer to moving out of the old St. Alphonsus convent and into a new home, after recently breaking ground on the new facility on Jackson Avenue.
The groundbreaking celebration for the future location of the center, 457 Jackson Ave, was held Feb. 27 and was attended by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Judge Chris Bruno, Councilwomen Stacey Head and LaToya Cantrell, former state Sen. Diana Bajoie and Executive Director of the New Orleans Council on Aging, Howard Rodgers, according to a news release from the center.
The old center was located at 1017 St. Andrew St. in the old St. Alphonsus convent since 1997, but that building no longer sufficiently served the seniors’ needs.
“Our seniors’ needs are growing and the existing center can’t accommodate our entire membership for our events,” said Mercy Endeavors executive director Sister Jane Briseno. “Our exercise classes and Zumba classes are cramped and seniors have difficulty moving around in the limited space.”
The new center will include a computer lab, a library and many other amenities, organizers said.
Mercy Endeavors is an activity center that looks to serve 100 seniors from the Irish Channel and Lower Garden District neighborhoods. The faith-based center offers weekly programs such as bingo, bible study, and exercise classes. The center also provides medical assessments and two meals per day.
