Employee Spotlight: New Senior Center Coordinator

Published on June 30, 2021

Bobi_BINGO

Belton’s Senior Center is anticipated to be open to the public in August. Along with its anticipated re-opening comes the center’s new coordinator, Bobi Hallak. Hallak has exciting plans to make the Senior Center a fun, enriching environment for the older adults in Belton and neighboring communities.

 

Hallak’s passion and excitement is contagious. After one conversation with her you will be ready to get out and make a difference in your community! She has big plans for the Senior Center; her main goal is to make it “the place to be.”

 

“After over a year of isolation, I want older adults to feel comfortable, a sense of place like they belong here,” says Bobi Hallak, Senior Center coordinator.

 

Traditional activities will be offered, such as BINGO and other games. Hallak is very excited to spin the cage and be the BINGO caller. “In my interview I asked if I would be able to call BINGO,” Hallak said. “It is so important to be a part of every facet of senior activity with our citizens, so this is one of the many activities I am excited to host.”

 

Belton citizens involved in the Senior Center are sure to enjoy Hallak’s new ideas. Cooking classes, educational programs, and gardening projects (while also learning about plants and bugs) all make the list on new and exciting activities coming to the Senior Center. She is partnering with Belton Parks and Recreation to offer fitness and wellness classes. These classes will offer older adults the chance to get up and get moving. In addition, Hallak plans to incorporate arts and crafts into the activities offered at the center thereby allowing participants to use their creativity as an outlet in making and creating something they are proud of.

 

Using her keen eye for detail, she is overseeing the Senior Center’s much needed renovations. The renovations in the works include new floors, new windows, a fresh coat of paint, with more in the planning phase.

 

The Senior Center is getting a new social media presence with a dedicated Facebook page. The vision for the page is to educate the public, advertise events and services offered, and make sure older adults and their families know they have a safe place to go and socialize.

 

Previously Hallak worked as the volunteer and outreach programs manager at the KC Shepherd’s Center. Her job responsibilities included recruiting and training volunteers, marketing, social media, and website design. It was at the Shepherd Center, and in previous volunteer management roles where Hallak found her passion -- people.

 

“I think the moment it clicked that I finally knew what I wanted to do when I “grew up” was just a few years back actually,” says Hallak. “I realized it working with students, older adults, planning parties and events, lifelong learning, building meaningful relationships, helping underserved populations, and working with volunteers. I just needed to find a place to bring it all together. All of these are possible to accomplish while running the Senior Center!”

 

One experience that reassures Hallak that she is doing what she loves happened recently. She wasn’t able to reach a Senior Center member who gets frozen meals delivered. Once she was able to contact the member, Hallak went to her house to assist her with her phone issues. Unfortunately, her phone had been hacked. Hallak cleared her phone of the viruses and got her phone back in working order thereby bringing much relief and happiness to our member. When she left, Hallak thought to herself, this, this right here is exactly why I want to do what I do. It is the little things that make a huge difference and bring quality in people’s day-to-day lives.

 

While Hallak’s passion for people is very strong, she does have other interests. She enjoys playing with her 100-pound, 9-month-old Newfypoo (50 percent Newfoundland, 50 percent Standard Poodle). His proper gentleman’s name is Sir Winston Bazel Hallak, but most of the time he goes by Winston.

Bobis-Dog

 

She is a family-oriented person. Her husband Leo is her best friend and confidant. She is “Grandma B” to two grandkids who hold a huge chunk of her heart. She has three children, two boys and one girl. Her wildest dream is to have an HGTV show redecorating homes with her daughter, who is currently studying interior design.

 

Bobi and Family

 

Hallak is a passionate individual who is ready to take the Senior Center to the next level. Her love for people, family, and community will lift the spirits of everyone around her after the hard year we’ve all experienced.

 

The older adults in Belton and neighboring communities are in great hands. The plans, vision, and goals she has will make the Belton Senior Center better than ever. Keep an eye out for future updates on the Senior Center re-opening on August 2nd.

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