March 24, 2026

Two familiar faces greet visitors at the Bryant Senior Center—Bingo and Duke, a pair of laid-back “guard dogs” who prefer belly rubs to barking.

“They’re our guard dogs,” Steve Smith jokes as the dogs lounge on the porch, their tails thumping against the concrete as a guest stops to pet them.

Bingo and Duke belong to Marie Schrudder, 88, who lives across the street and walks over regularly.

“They’re just two big babies,” she says. “I enjoy coming here and being with other people instead of just sitting at home.”

That sense of connection is exactly what the Bryant Senior Center provides. Located near the Tennessee and Georgia state lines, the small community is home to about 3,600 residents—many of whom rely on the center for meals, activities and fellowship. Tanya Pearson took over as the center’s manager just last month.

On a recent morning, a group gathered for a devotional led by Denese Nash, 65, who first came to the center more than 20 years ago with her mother.

“There’s a lot of family history and memories here,” Denese says. “Back then, it was about keeping Mama active. Now it’s me—you have to keep yourself active.”

After years of managing the center, Denese now enjoys leading devotionals and staying involved.

For many, the center is part of a daily routine. Charles Nash, 79, appreciates both the food and the convenience.

“This is my main meal of the day,” he says. “And I don’t have to wash dishes.”

Louis and Beverly Gilmer, 82 and 84, have been attending for a decade and have deep ties to the center.

“My parents came here when it first opened and loved it,” Beverly says. “We’ve seen a lot of changes, but it’s still a special place.”

Like many senior centers, Bryant saw attendance drop during the pandemic. But with new leadership, participation is beginning to grow again.

“We’re glad to have Tanya here,” Beverly adds. “She’s getting things going again with activities like bingo and the penny auction.”

Tanya is focused on rebuilding both attendance and programming.

“People here look out for each other—it really feels like a family,” Tanya says.

It shows when Paul Vandergriff, 85, walks in with his usual greeting: “It’s good to see everyone this morning.”

Each day, Tanya says the center serves 17 hot meals, with volunteers delivering another 15 to homebound residents. Activities like cards, bingo, chair yoga and crafts give participants plenty of ways to stay engaged.

“We’d love to get back to having 40 people here at one time,” Tanya says. “That’s our goal.”

One challenge is transportation. She’s considering a fundraiser to buy a van.

“If we had a van, more people could come,” she says. “That’s something we hope to work toward.”

For regulars like Marlin Hill, 85, the center offers something simple but meaningful.

“It’s somewhere to go instead of sitting at home,” he says. “And the food’s good, too.”

Barbara Day, 75, the center assistant, agrees.

“I enjoy all of it—the people, the meals, everything,” she says. “We’re just glad to be back together.”

The Bryant Senior Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more can call 256-597-2119 or visit 1315 County Road 262.

Bingo and Duke the Bryant Senior Center

Bingo at the Bryant Senior Center

Bingo at the Bryant Senior Center

Pledge of allegiance at the Bryant Senior Center

Lunchtime at the Bryant Senior Center with center manager Tanya Pearson and her assistant, Barbara Day preparing plates for participants.

Lunchtime at the Bryant Senior Center

Charles Nash shows a photo of him and his niece Denese with their parents when they were young children.

David Gaddis

Nora Gaddis

Marlin Hill

Charles Nash

Paul Vandergriff

Louis and Beverly Gilmer

Bryant Senior Center Manager Tanya Pearson

March 11, 2026

Through senior centers in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties, TARCOG offers nutritious meals to help ensure older adults stay healthy and energized.

In 2025, through the nutrition program, 4,121 seniors in the region received 397,493 meals through the nutrition program, said Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey.

With the exception of holidays, hot meals are served Monday through Friday at senior centers or packaged and delivered to homebound individuals by volunteers.

Senior centers promote healthy lifestyles by providing meals, recreation, exercise and a variety of activities. The region has 38 centers open to anyone 60 or older, as well as spouses of any age. Contributions are encouraged, with a suggested minimum of $1.25 per meal, if possible.

Health and wellness programs are designed to serve seniors with the greatest economic or social needs, and there is no income limit for eligibility.

For those who are homebound and in need of food assistance, TARCOG may be able to provide home-delivered meals to help maintain independence. While hot, nutritious meals are available through senior centers, there may be a waiting list for home delivered meals, Sheila said.

“We serve as many as we can,” Sheila said. “And we solicit donations from communities to help minimize wait lists whenever possible because our goal is to enhance nutrition and reduce food insecurity.”

“At the TARCOG Area Agency on Aging, we’re here to support health, wellness and independence,” Sheila said. “A big part of that is making sure people are eating nutritious meals.”

TARCOG also assists with applications for food assistance programs, helping seniors access resources to live independently.

Staff are available to assist households in which all members are age 65 or older with no earned income through the Alabama Elderly Simplified Application Project, a major outreach effort aimed at reducing barriers to participation in the Food Assistance Program.

Many seniors face challenges applying for food assistance, including transportation, mobility and disability. This food assistance outreach program is designed to streamline the process and improve delivery of benefits to eligible households.

“TARCOG is here to support older adults so they can live independent and fulfilling lives,” Sheila said.

Contact TARCOG today to learn more about our elderly nutrition program by reaching out to our Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 256-830-0818.

Example of a hot meal served at a local senior center.