Girard Multi-Generational Center

This is a former elementary school that I attended growing up. It was called Tod Woods Elementary and was actually built in 1919. My mom and her brother and sisters attended here. When they closed it as a school, they considered demolishing it. Instead, it is now a non-​profit center that caters to offering a place for senior citizens to visit daily.
They have a small staff that runs the place but they offer many things for senior citizens to do. They have an exercise room, crafts, basic computer training and weekly luncheons to name a few. As a police officer, we are asked to stop in from time to time and talk to the folks which they seem to enjoy. Whether it be asking about crime stats or just shooting the breeze, they are just happy to see an officer there. It is a great place and is funded via levy’s and minimal membership fees for upkeep and staff salaries. For example, I bought a year membership to use their exercise room, it was $ 20. Truly a great thing in our city.
Last night, my wife and sister-​in-​law took the kids here for an evening with Santa. They got to see Santa and in addition, they did crafts, face painting and had the gym set up for a fake snowball fight. The gym floor is filled with balled up socks for the kids to throw at each other as if they were in a snowball fight minus the cold and wetness. This was their favorite part of the night.
Overall, just a great thing to have locally and it attracts folks from other communities as well. It was a great idea when compared to it being demolished.