By Jason Gabak

Right now there is a great deal of working going on at the Fayetteville Senior Center.
According to Janet Best, director of the center, these past few months with everything closed down have afforded the center the opportunity to do some renovation work and while in the midst of a large project like this it can be difficult to see the finish line, Best said she and everyone at the center is excited to see the work progress.
“We are looking forward to when we can open again and welcome people back,” Best said. “When the work is done we’ll have an open house and welcome the community and let everyone see what has been going on here.”
With everything closed, even the center’s lunch program, Best said it has been a challenging time for the center and the seniors of the community the center serves.
But Best was able to announce that at least one of the center’s annual events was going to be making a comeback.
With a preview sale planned for Friday, Sept. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. and sale hours for Sept 26 going from 9 to 2 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 27 from noon to 2 p.m., the senior center is bringing back its popular rummage sale fundraiser.
Usually held in June, Best said the rummage sale is an important event for the senior center.
“COVID hit and we had to change what we normally do,” Best said.
While the center hoped things may have improved by June, Best said the decision was made to push the rummage sale back to the fall in the interest of everyone’s health and safety.
The rummage sale follows a chicken barbecue the center held in August, which best said was successful.
Held as a drive through, Best said people seemed to feel confident about stopping by and picking up food, which helped make the barbecue a success.
“I think that being in their car people felt OK about coming out,” Best said. “It went really well.”
Seeing how well the barbecue went, Best said this bolsters confidence heading into the rummage sale.
“It is a big fundraiser for us,” Best said. “I think after all these months people want to do something and get out a little so I think people are looking forward to it. I think people are getting excited about it.”
The sale, which will be held at the senior center, 584 E. Genesee St. in Fayetteville, will be following all necessary guidelines with social distancing protocols being followed as well as face coverings required and people will be monitoring the number of people at the sale at any time and letting people in accordingly as numbers and space allow for safety measures.
Best said the center was also able to secure a tent so being out in the open air, she said she hopes this also makes people feel more comfortable about attending the sale.
In addition to the safety measures and the fact that the funds raised go to support the work of the senior center, Best said the overwhelming number of items that have been donated and will be for sale will be exciting for shoppers.
According to Best the center has had an incredible outpouring of donations over the past few months.
“Spring cleaning went right into fall cleaning,” Best said. “We have a lot of furniture, CDs, DVDs, household items, sporting good, a lot of art work. We have some really great artwork. I think there is a lot that people will be interested in.”
Best said she can’t thank the community enough for their donations to the sale and she hopes support will be equally strong for the sale.
“This all goes to helping out seniors,” Best said. “This support things like our meal program. We made a decision that we were only going to serve all homemade food and this helps make things like that possible.”
Speaking of homemade, Best said looking ahead the center is planning a pie drive for November with homemade pies for sale.
In the meantime Best said the center is moving along with renovation work and looking forward to the day when it can welcome seniors back inside and get at least a little closer to back to normal.
For more information on the rummage sale call 315-637-9025.

If you go
Fayetteville Senior Center, 584 E. Genesee St. in Fayetteville
Friday, Sept. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. preview sale, $5 entrance donation
Sept 26 going from 9 to 2 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 27 from noon to 2 p.m., $5 bag sale on Sunday.