I had the opportunity to visit the Camas County Senior Center in Fairfield, Idaho last week. I am not a senior, but I was there on business to provide some information to local seniors. This was my second visit to this senior center, but my first time having lunch here. Kelly, the site manager, was cooking what smelled like a delicious barbecue pork lunch on my first visit. The cook had called in sick and she was tasked with making the lunch. Her demeanor was still cheery and welcoming even with taking on a duty I don't think she was planning on this particular day. She also made what looked and smelled like some bomb homemade brownies. But on this visit - I got to have lunch. On the menu today was chicken and dumplings. Which admittedly is one of my least favorite things to eat. I would not ever have this - unless I had to. And being here for lunch, and it being what was served, I had to. And it wasn't bad. The people I was sitting with who have chicken and dumplings often said that these were pretty good. The flavor was good, there were big pieces of chicken, and the dumplings reminded me of gnocchi. Dumplings I've had - and not liked - in the past were very pasty/gummy. So these were OK for me, but pretty good by standards of people more familiar with what this dish should taste like. The salad bar is a good one. Clean, with a good amount of the usual fresh items to put on your lettuce in addition to cottage cheese and peaches. And for dessert: BROWNIES! They had baked 2 pans of them, and had a tub of vanilla ice cream to go with. The brownies were gooey and delicious and warm when I put the vanilla ice cream on top. Yummmmmy! Lunch is $5 for seniors, $6 for those under 60, and served on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Everybody knows everybody here. And they seem to take care of each other. So and so wasn't doing well, so they packed up a lunch and took it to him. They made a 2020 calendar to sell (with proceeds going back to the senior center) with everyone's birthdays on it. A group stayed after lunch to play cards. There was a quilting area where a lady was working on a quilt that was going to be for sale at the Christmas bazaar. They have many events here for seniors: *Art class each Thursday 10am-12pm *Bingo 2nd Wed 1pm *Book Club 1st Wed of each month 3:30pm *Breakfast 2nd Saturday 8-10am *Cards Tues/Wed/Fri 1:30-4pm *Exercise Class Tues/Thurs 5pm *Foot Clinic 4th Wed 9:30am *Laughter Yoga Tue1pm *Meditation Tues 7pm *Miracle Hot Springs Trip 1st Mon of each month 8am *Old Time Fiddlers 4th Fridays 11:30am *Prairie Quilters Tue/Fri 10am-12pm *Weight Loss Group Tues 10:30 am - when you're that far in and away from larger cities, I think it's great that they are a destination for people to get out and be social. The facility is clean, with clean bathrooms, delicious food, and good, quality people. As with all senior centers I have been to for lunch, they do a blessing before the meal and the Pledge of Allegiance. It's a pretty drive out to the Camas Prairie, and if you time it right, you can enjoy a nice meal with with great people too. read more

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