Jeanne Harris, of Buchanan, is retired from a career at Bosch. She has volunteered with the Buchanan Senior Center since 2013.

What are your duties at the Buchanan Senior Center?

I am on the board and have served on the board since 2013. I have been secretary since 2015. Our board volunteers to help out with the center. If I am needed at the front desk, I will help there or the kitchen or one of the ladies in nutrition. Any of the fundraisers they need help with I will volunteer for that. Pretty much wherever I am needed, so I love being on the board.

How did you get involved with the Buchanan Senior Center?

I started going there after I retired and volunteering a little bit. One day, someone recommended that I be on the board. … I said, “yeah, I will.” And I won a seat on the board. I enjoy being up there, I really do. We have a really nice center [that attracts] people from Niles, South Bend, St. Joseph and Berrien Springs.

What do you most enjoy about your volunteer work with the Buchanan Senior Center?

I enjoy just being around the people. We have all sorts of events and the seniors really get into the activities that we have. Many of them come for exercising. We have special events like Christmas parties and the seniors get up and dance. I guess just seeing them get so involved and how much the enjoy it [is the best thing]. Just being there in that environment, I just like it and we have really great staff. They are really compassionate with the seniors and the seniors know that they care. That makes all the difference.

What do you think the Buchanan Senior Center does for the community?

People know that they can go to the center. It is like a resource place. [For example] if they need food through Meals on Wheels, they can start with the center. The center gives out … commodities that people in the community are eligible for. Of course, they also help with … Medicare and Medicaid. It is very much a resource center.

Why would you encourage people to volunteer at the Buchanan Senior Center?

I guess because of the environment and a lot of times I try to get people I graduated with to go out there. It’s something to do, get with people and get to know people here. For many of the older seniors, they just like having someone to talk to.