When the Belhaven Senior Center lost its funding in 2016, Belhaven’s elders lost a valuable place to socialize, learn and build new friendships. With no director and no facility, the seniors of the center, however, remained committed to continuing the program offerings and fellowship the old center offered.

Last month, thanks to some hard work, grant money and space offered by the town, the Belhaven Senior Club celebrated the grand opening of a new space in the old Belhaven Town Hall, once more giving Belhaven seniors a place of their own.

“The (then) mayor and town manager, Adam O’Neal and Woody Jarvis, offered us the lower-left section of the original town hall if we could get money to renovate it,” said club member Dave Rieves.

With a grant secured by Yvonne DeRuiz through the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation, the club found the funding it needed to bring the project to fruition — $146,000. With the help of O.C. Jones at Roanoke Electric, the club completely transformed the space in the old town hall.

“What we tried to do was make it moisture resistant,” Reives said. “We knew it was going to flood.”

From the wiring to the floor and the walls, the space was designed to withstand the flooding that plagues Belhaven. That design was put to the test during Hurricane Florence — a quick hose down and sanitizing, and the club was back in business.

“All our equipment and furniture is nothing that we can’t fold up, stack or have one person handle moving it out,” Reives said.

In addition to activities, the Senior Club of Belhaven works hand in hand with the Belhaven Senior Club to administer exercise and health programs for Belhaven seniors, with a grant from Vidant Health assisting with those programs.

General hours for the Senior Club, which is located at 213 East Main St., are 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Mondays

Chair exercise class, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Seniors Club

Knitters’ group, 1 to 3 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church

Tuesdays

Tai Chi, 9 to 10 a.m. and 10 to 11 a.m., Seniors Club

Pickleball, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Multipurpose Building

Line dancing, 1 to 3 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church

Pilates-yoga, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Seniors Club

Wednesdays

Pickleball, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Multipurpose Building

Basket weaving, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Seniors Club

Thursdays

Chair exercise, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Seniors Club

“We’ve had lots and lots of participation, with new people coming in,” Reives said.

Eventually, Reives says the goal is to hire a part-time director. For more information on the club, call 252-943-2992