Stillaguamish Senior Center (SSC)
The Stillaguamish Senior Center (SSC) is a non-profit corporation. Its mission is to provide services to all seniors that enhance the quality of life, limit isolation and prevent a need for institutionalization. Content is from the site's 2016 archived pages.​
If you have reached this site while looking for the Stillaguamish Senior Center, go to their current website at: http://stillycenter.org/
Stillaguamish Senior Center
18308 Smokey Point Blvd.
Arlington, WA 98223
(360) 653-4551
"Working at the Stillaguamish Senior Center has been a truly enriching experience, especially in seeing firsthand how our efforts directly improve the lives of seniors. One significant area of development I've been a part of is the modernization of our data management systems. We recognized the urgent need to replace our outdated FoxPro software, which had become obsolete and no longer efficient for the complex needs of our center. The replacement software brings several improvements – it's more secure, user-friendly, and capable of handling larger, more complex data sets, which is essential for the efficient management of our diverse range of services and programs. This upgrade is a crucial step in ensuring our senior community receives the best care and services we can provide." DC Clarke
History
The Stillaguamish Senior center (SSC) is a non-profit corporation organized by North Snohomish County citizens in 1970. Its mission is to provide services to all seniors that enhance the quality of life, limit isolation and prevent a need for institutionalization. An original sponsor of the organization was the Cascade Valley Hospital (CVH) board of directors who hoped to reduce the need for medicare hospitalization. The Center met at Pioneer Hall, was financed by a small federal grant and was managed by volunteers. It became apparent that a larger site was needed and in 1972 the site of the Fircrest Motel was purchased on Smokey Point Boulevard. The financing came from numerous fund raisers and a $55,000 loan from three local banks which was cosigned by CVH board of directors. Many local businesses donated materials and local seniors and others provided labor to build the present main building. Over the next few years grants were obtained to build two additional buildings, funds were raised to hire a small staff, and additional property was acquired including an adjacent thrift store. Throughout this period of growth, community support and hundreds of volunteer hours have made the center a valuable community asset. Through the years the senior center has built three HUD buildings and one Rural Development, therefore, we have 154 units of low-income senior housing on our campus. Financing for these buildings comes from federal, state, and county agencies with mortgages paid by rents and rent subsidies. SSC staff manages and maintains these facilities and provides social services to the residents. Currently services and programs being provided at the center include: Health and Wellness services such as diabetes support group, foot clinic, blood pressure screening, Caregiver Support groups, Outreach services, fitness activities, Food Bank, surplus food room and a four day meal site. Recreational activities; classes, day trips and extended trips, public bingo, pinochle, bridge, wei bowling, movies, pool playing, Friday entertainment; etc. Currently the center has 4,123 participants and 230 volunteers. These volunteers work with staff in many areas of the center. We have a 15 member Board of Directors and a 21 member Advisory Council. Funding for these activities and services come from a variety of sources; Snohomish County, City of Arlington, United Way. We also self-generate funds through our Thrift Store, Hall Rentals, Public Bingo games, fundraising, grants and donors. If you have not been to the Stillaguamish Senior Center and are in our area be sure to stop in for a tour and visit. |
Activities
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Mt. Rushmore & The Black Hills
Travel to beautiful
Mt. Rushmore & The Black Hills of South Dakota
August 20th-28th, 2016. -
The Stillaguamish Senior Center’s Snuggle Tree is up and ready for donations. The center is collecting warm hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, and socks for area children in the community. We will be collection items through January 1st. Thank you from the children.
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New Years Celebration at the Center
Join us as we kick off the new year. Let’s talk about all the wonderful possibilities the fresh start of a new year brings...(and don’t forget to choose a couple of cool resolutions!) Entertainment starts on January 8th at 11 AM with Rick Cooper. Lunch at noon. -
Martin Luther King
A day of remembering all the freedoms we have and enjoy. Martin Luther King Jr. has inspired the world to put aside all prejudice. Entertainment starts on January 15th at 11 AM with Doug Williams. Lunch at noon. -
Chicken Dinner
January 31stNoon - 2:00pmPrices
$8 Seniors
$9 Adults
$5 Children -
Come in and join us as we serve the best baked chicken with mashed potatoes & gravy, coleslaw and roll.
All proceeds help to raise money to keep our seniors active in the community.
Live musical entertainment! -
Social Services
If you have questions regarding Medicare, Social Security, DSHS, legal issues, a loss, or declining health, you can call our Outreach Services provider, Adele Erbeck, here at the Center. Adele is available on Wednesdays & Thursdays from 9am-4pm. 360-653-4551 x 234
Closures
Snow Days - If the Arlington school district is closed for snow, the Stillaguamish Senior Center will be closed as well.
| New Years Day | Thursday, January 1st |
| Martin Luther King Day | Monday, January 19th |
| Presidents Day | Monday, February 16th |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25th |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 3rd |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7th |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 12th |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26th |
| Day after Thanksgiving | Friday, November 27th |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24th |
| Day after Christmas | Friday, December 25th |
More Background On StillyCenter.com
StillyCenter.com serves as an archival digital representation of the Stillaguamish Senior Center, a long-standing community institution located in Arlington, Washington. While the website itself reflects an earlier era of web design and content management, its value lies in preserving a detailed snapshot of the mission, programs, services, and community impact of one of Snohomish County’s most significant senior-focused organizations. For researchers, families, community planners, and historians, StillyCenter.com provides insight into how senior centers evolved in the Pacific Northwest and how community-driven nonprofit models successfully addressed aging-related needs decades before “aging in place” became a mainstream policy objective.
The site captures the philosophy, activities, and operational scope of the Stillaguamish Senior Center at a time when digital presence was supplementary rather than central. As such, it functions as both an informational resource and a historical record.
Organizational Ownership and Governance
The Stillaguamish Senior Center is operated as a nonprofit corporation formed by community members in northern Snohomish County. Governance has traditionally been structured around a volunteer-driven board of directors supported by advisory councils and staff leadership. This structure reflects a community accountability model rather than a top-down institutional one.
Board members, advisory council participants, and volunteers are typically drawn from the local population, including seniors themselves, ensuring that programming decisions align closely with real community needs. The nonprofit status enables the organization to access public funding, grants, and donations while maintaining independence in service delivery.
StillyCenter.com reflects this governance philosophy clearly, emphasizing volunteer engagement, board participation, and community involvement as core operational principles rather than peripheral support functions.
Geographic Location and Community Context
The Stillaguamish Senior Center campus is located on Smokey Point Boulevard in Arlington, Washington, a city positioned within the Stillaguamish River Valley region of Snohomish County. This location places the center within reasonable proximity to Everett, Marysville, and other North Sound communities, making it accessible to seniors from both rural and semi-urban environments.
The geographic context is essential to understanding the center’s importance. Snohomish County includes a mix of agricultural land, suburban growth corridors, and isolated rural areas. Seniors in these regions often face transportation barriers, social isolation, and limited access to health or recreational services. The center’s physical location—on a major arterial route—was intentionally selected to reduce those barriers.
StillyCenter.com highlights this accessibility and reinforces the center’s role as a regional hub rather than a neighborhood-only resource.
Historical Origins and Founding Vision
The Stillaguamish Senior Center was established in 1970 during a period when senior advocacy and community-based aging services were gaining national attention. The founding vision centered on improving quality of life for older adults while reducing unnecessary institutionalization and hospital dependency.
One notable aspect of the center’s origin is its early support from hospital leadership, reflecting a forward-thinking understanding that social engagement, nutrition, and preventive services could reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes. Initially operating in modest facilities with limited funding, the organization relied heavily on volunteers and grassroots fundraising.
StillyCenter.com documents this early period in detail, illustrating how incremental growth, local donations, and community labor enabled the center to expand from a small meeting space into a multi-building campus.
Campus Growth and Physical Infrastructure
Over time, the Stillaguamish Senior Center developed a substantial physical footprint. The campus includes multiple buildings dedicated to programming, administration, recreation, and housing. Particularly significant is the development of low-income senior housing units financed through a combination of federal, state, and county programs.
The site outlines the construction of HUD-supported and Rural Development housing facilities, ultimately resulting in more than 150 housing units on campus. This integration of housing with social services represents a comprehensive approach to senior care that was ahead of its time.
StillyCenter.com provides valuable documentation of how these facilities were financed, managed, and maintained, emphasizing sustainability and long-term stewardship rather than short-term expansion.
Mission, Goals, and Guiding Philosophy
The mission articulated throughout StillyCenter.com focuses on enhancing quality of life, reducing isolation, and supporting independence among seniors. Rather than defining success purely in terms of service volume, the organization emphasizes dignity, autonomy, and community connection.
Key goals include:
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Supporting seniors in remaining active and engaged
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Providing access to nutrition and wellness services
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Offering social, recreational, and educational opportunities
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Preventing unnecessary institutional care
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Supporting caregivers and families
The language used on the site reflects a human-centered approach, framing seniors as active participants rather than passive recipients of care.
Programs and Services Offered
StillyCenter.com details an extensive range of services, illustrating the breadth of the center’s programming. These offerings extend well beyond recreational activities and reflect a holistic understanding of aging.
Health and wellness services include screenings, support groups, and clinics that address chronic conditions and preventive care. Nutrition services encompass meal programs, surplus food distribution, and food bank access, ensuring food security for vulnerable populations.
Recreational programming ranges from card games and bingo to fitness activities, movies, and group outings. Educational and enrichment opportunities include classes, travel programs, and special events designed to stimulate lifelong learning and curiosity.
Outreach services play a critical role, assisting seniors with navigating Medicare, Social Security, legal questions, and life transitions. StillyCenter.com underscores the importance of personalized support in helping seniors remain independent.
Community Engagement and Volunteerism
Volunteer participation is a defining feature of the Stillaguamish Senior Center. StillyCenter.com consistently highlights the number of volunteers involved and the wide range of roles they play, from program facilitation to event management and fundraising.
This volunteer-driven model strengthens community ties and fosters intergenerational engagement. Volunteers are not portrayed merely as helpers but as partners in service delivery.
The site also documents community-oriented initiatives such as seasonal donation drives, holiday celebrations, and public events that extend the center’s impact beyond its immediate membership.
Popularity, Reach, and Participation
At the time reflected by StillyCenter.com, the center served thousands of participants annually, supported by hundreds of volunteers. These figures indicate substantial community penetration for a regional nonprofit.
The popularity of recurring programs such as bingo, group meals, and fitness activities suggests that the center functioned as a social anchor for many seniors. Travel programs and special events further expanded engagement, attracting participants who might not otherwise attend routine programming.
StillyCenter.com conveys a sense of vibrancy and continuity, portraying the center as a place people return to regularly rather than visit sporadically.
Cultural and Social Significance
Beyond services, the Stillaguamish Senior Center occupies an important cultural role. It acts as a space where seniors maintain social identity, build friendships, and continue contributing to community life.
The center’s emphasis on celebration, entertainment, and shared experiences counters narratives of aging as decline. Instead, StillyCenter.com presents aging as an active life stage enriched by connection and purpose.
From a broader perspective, the center exemplifies how local institutions can address demographic change without relying solely on large healthcare systems or commercial providers.
Technology, Operations, and Modernization
Although StillyCenter.com reflects an earlier technological era, it includes insights into operational modernization efforts. References to data management upgrades illustrate the organization’s recognition that administrative efficiency and data security are essential for sustainability.
These modernization efforts demonstrate adaptability and a willingness to evolve, even within a mission-driven nonprofit context.
Press, Recognition, and Public Perception
While the site does not extensively catalog awards or press mentions, its longevity and growth suggest strong public trust and institutional credibility. Partnerships with local governments, funding agencies, and community organizations further reinforce its standing.
StillyCenter.com itself serves as a form of public record, documenting transparency, accountability, and community impact.
Audience and Intended Users
The primary audience for StillyCenter.com includes seniors, caregivers, family members, volunteers, and local stakeholders. Secondary audiences include policymakers, researchers, and nonprofit professionals seeking models of effective senior services.
The site’s straightforward language and practical focus suggest an emphasis on accessibility rather than marketing, aligning with the organization’s service-oriented mission.
Relationship to the Current Website
StillyCenter.com now functions primarily as an archival or legacy site, with users directed to the organization’s current web presence elsewhere. Despite this, the site remains valuable for historical reference and institutional memory.
For anyone studying the evolution of community-based senior services, StillyCenter.com offers a detailed and authentic account that newer, more polished websites often lack.
Lasting Legacy and Relevance
The enduring relevance of StillyCenter.com lies in its documentation of how a locally driven nonprofit can grow sustainably while remaining responsive to community needs. Its emphasis on housing, health, social connection, and volunteerism reflects principles that continue to shape best practices in senior services today.
As communities across the United States confront aging populations, the Stillaguamish Senior Center’s model—preserved through StillyCenter.com—offers valuable lessons in integration, compassion, and resilience.
