Next to St. Edward’s Catholic Church on Elm Street near Baylor, there is a place where seniors come to share meals, activities, lectures, stories and, yes, bingo. This facility is the Brady Center, a community center established by the Catholic Charities.

In addition to the senior program, The Brady Center provides a food pantry, a family education department where single parents can receive job training, and a preschool to care for children while their parents take classes. The Brady Center has been in operation for more than 15 years, and its Senior Nutrition Program has become increasingly popular, attracting up to 150 participants on any given day from as far away as North Dallas.

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The program is available to anyone 60 years and older, regardless of religious affiliation or financial status. Currently, 410 seniors have signed up to participate in the program. Ella Talavera, the program director, says the program serves many functions for participating seniors.

“Many of these seniors are stuck at home, so we provide transportation for anyone who lives within the five-zip-code area that surrounds the center,” she says. “Coming here keeps them from being depressed. It’s a place where they can share a meal with others, find camaraderie, and keep active.”

The program provides lunch daily and breakfast three times a week. While some Dallas area meal programs rely on food prepared off-site and delivered, the Brady Center boasts a full-service kitchen.

“I think the food is better because it is prepared here,” says Talavera. Eighty-year-old Candy Tafolla, a program participant and center volunteer, agrees.

“The food here is very good compared to other places,” she says.

Every lunch is specifically designed to include one-third of the dietary RDA. But Tafolla and other participants don’t come just for the meals.

“We all like coming here because it’s a way to make new friends, to share stories, and to learn new things. I learned to paint here,” she says. “I really enjoy painting, but I’ve never had the materials or anyone to teach me before.”

In addition to meals and entertainment, the Brady Center also hosts informational seminars and provides transportation to area grocery stores and shopping malls.

“Many of our participants are no longer driving,” Talavera says, “so this may be their only opportunity to run these errands.”

The Brady Center is partially funded by the Catholic Charities, and it also receives funding from the Area Agency on Aging and United Way. Still, the group relies primarily on help from volunteers to run the center on a day-to-day basis. Anyone is welcome to lend a hand, but the Brady Center particularly needs individuals to help with teaching classes and leading activities.

Tafolla volunteers at the center daily, assisting with food preparation and handling donations.

“I come every day from 9:30 until 4 or 5,” she says. “I just enjoy being here with everyone so much.”

For information, contact the Brady Center at 214-826-8330.