COVID-19 Information page

Staying Active Making Friends Feeling Welcome

Welcome Mary Jensen, Executive Director!

The Keene Senior Center Board of Directors is pleased to announce that our new Executive Director, Mary Jensen, PhD., will begin her new role on May 17th, 2021. She will start part-time and will transition to full-time on June 1st. Mary will be succeeding Cameron Tease, who is retiring on June 11th.

Prior to accepting the position, Mary served as the project manager for the Jonathan Daniels Center for Social Responsibility, and as the sustainability director at Keene State College, where she helped develop and integrate sustainability-related knowledge and practices into the college’s campus and programs. She has also worked at the Keene Recycling Center, the Keene Sentinel, and for a variety of music festivals. She is a board member of the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition, and a volunteer at Maplewood Nursing Home and The Keene Senior Center.

Mary received her PhD. from the University of New Hampshire, Master’s degree from Norwich University and B.A. from Keene State College.

Help Us Improve Our Building!

We need your help

The Keene Senior Center is requesting your support of a building improvements project for safety and accessibility that is a major part of our planning to re-open. The project was envisioned during a 2019 update of the strategic plan, however it has become a high priority because of safety issues related to COVID-19.

The upgrades would make possible a one-way flow of people through the facility, and create more space in the multipurpose room for social distancing during programs and classes. We also plan to build a new ramp, compliant to current safety standards, leading to the front door of The Senior Center.

Project Funding Status

Our project was selected in June, 2020 as a priority in the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Southwest NH (CEDS) by the Economic Development Advisory Committee of Southwest Region Planning Commission. The outside ramp was approved by Keene Historic District Commission on June 18, 2020. The total cost of the interior and exterior components is expected to be $150,000.

Make Your Heart Happy - Join Us!

Who We Are

The Keene Senior Center is where seniors join as members to Igrow friendships, have (currently virtual) coffee and conversation, plus attend fitness classes and learn about books and writing via Zoom. Tours will be available during our business hours once the building reopens. (All photos are pre-COVID-19)

Cheshire Village at Home

Cheshire Village at Home is a program of the Keene Senior Center, supporting seniors who wish to remain in their homes and be independent. Volunteers provide transportation, minor household chores such as changing hard to reach batteries and light bulbs, daily phone check-in, shopping, errands, socialization and more.

Center members play with kids from the YMCA.

Our History and Mission

The Keene Senior Center was founded in 1957, and has been providing senior citizen services for Keene and the surrounding towns ever since.

Mission

The Center shall act as a community focal point for persons aged fifty (50) or over so they may come together as individuals or in groups, for recreation, events and activities which enhance dignity, support independence and encourage involvement in and with the community.