REGIONAL ARTHRITIS CENTER AIDS SENIOR CENTER

For the Cape Senior Center, Thursday was kind of like Christmas.

Representatives from the Regional Arthritis Center at St. Francis Medical Center gave the senior center a new treadmill, a high-tech stationary bike, two sets of small hand weights and a new boombox, valued at more than $700.

The donation had been in the works for months, but Susan McClanahan, center administrator, said it was certainly appropriate to come during Random Acts of Kindness Week.

"I couldn't believe it," said McClanahan. "I told Marilyn Duncan with the Regional Arthritis Center that this was the best random act of kindness in town."

The donation came out of an education program that the arthritis center did at the senior center in January. Duncan, who serves as the community outreach nurse for the regional arthritis center, said they conducted heel bone density screenings and provided education on osteoporosis, which affects both women and men.

"It just happened that the donation fell during Random Acts of Kindness Week, but it made for nice timing," said Duncan.

The center received a grant from the Missouri Department of Health, which they used to fund the gift of the exercise equipment.

Duncan said one of the objectives of the center's outreach is to teach senior citizens how to use exercise to strengthen muscles and maintain strong bones to prevent osteoporosis.

With the new equipment, seniors can continue their walking and exercise programs in the center even when the weather is bad outside.

The portable stereo will allow the center to play music while they do their regular exercise classes on Tuesday and Friday.

McClanahan said Duncan had called several months ago to ask about the center's "wish list."

"I popped off several things off the top of my head including exercise equipment to help strengthen and build bones," she said. "A lot of people call about items, but we never hear back. I couldn't believe it when the van pulled up with this load. Marilyn and the Regional Arthritis Center are just wonderful."

McClanahan said they will log client participation and send the statistics to St. Francis once a month so they can track all the good the donation has done.