A business can sit along the same road for years, with people driving past every day without knowing what happens inside.
For members of the DeWitt Senior Center, a monthly breakfast outing is changing that , one mystery destination at a time. At the heart of the program is Melissa Larmeu, director of the DeWitt Senior Center, who works to create opportunities for seniors to stay engaged with their community, connect with others, and discover something new.
One of the center’s programs, “Breakfast with the Locals,” brings members together once a month for breakfast at a mystery business. Participants gather at the senior center without knowing where they are headed.
Sometimes, Larmeu offers a clue. Other times, the destination remains a surprise until just before they leave.
“They absolutely love it,” Larmeu said about the seniors.
Once the destination is revealed, participants carpool to the business, where they eat breakfast with employees, learn about the work being done there and often tour the facility.
Breakfast is suggested at $6 per person, but Larmeu said participants can contribute whatever they can afford. The business tours are free.
Although the program is organized through the senior center, people of all ages and those from outside DeWitt are welcome. Larmeu has made a point of creating opportunities for the seniors to interact with people of different ages.
The outings typically last about an hour, but no more than two.
In the past two years, participants have visited Rose Refinery Spa in Wilber, Heart Like Mine in DeWitt, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and more.
During the visit to the sheriff’s office, participants learned how officers work with a K-9 dog and saw the drones used by the department.
“I don’t know who had more fun, the deputies or the seniors. They all were having a riot,” Larmeu said.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said of the program.
Turning a survey response to a monthly outing
The idea for Breakfast with the Locals came from a suggestion made during one of the senior center’s bi-annual check-ins, when members are asked in a survey what programs they would like to see offered and to give general feedback.
One person requested more opportunities for local businesses to visit the senior center and talk about their work.
Larmeu decided to take the idea a step further. Rather than simply inviting business owners to give presentations, she wanted members to experience the businesses firsthand.
“You won’t get the gist of it if you don’t go see it firsthand,” Larmeu said.
She has since heard from several participants who were surprised to discover what was happening inside businesses they had passed countless times.
“A person can drive by these businesses every single day, and you don’t really stop and think about what is going on in that business,” Larmeu said.
Keeping the destination a secret is part of what makes the program work.
Larmeu recalled one man who particularly enjoyed visiting Rose Refinery Spa. He told her he wished he had discovered the business sooner. Had he known the group was going to a spa, however, he admitted he might not have participated.
For Larmeu, that reaction captures the purpose of the program.
“It truly opens their eyes to what is in their local community,” she said.
The benefits extend beyond the participants. Local businesses have an opportunity to introduce themselves to residents, share what they do and build relationships with people who might otherwise never walk through their doors.
After two years of the program, businesses have begun reaching out to Larmeu to ask whether the group can visit them.
“I could have these businesses come in and give a program at our senior center, but there’s something about actually seeing it,” Larmeu said.
Building a community at the Dewitt Senior Center
Larmeu has worked at the DeWitt Senior Center for six years, and creating meaningful experiences for its members remains one of the most rewarding parts of her job.
She is constantly looking for new ideas, meeting with other senior center directors and even visiting other centers while on vacation to see what programs they offer.
Some of her personal favorites have included a presentation by an American Sign Language interpreter and a handwriting analysis activity for members.
“Programs come to me in the middle of nowhere sometimes,” Larmeu said.
Alongside these unique activities, the center offers more traditional programming, including tai chi and pitch games. Its monthly Afternoon with Friends program brings participants to local nursing homes to visit people who once regularly attended senior center activities but now live in those facilities.
For Larmeu, these visits reflect a larger purpose behind the center’s work: Helping people maintain connections through different stages of life.
She recognizes that older adults can face a range of challenges, including health concerns, grief, family difficulties and isolation. The senior center gives people opportunities to leave home, spend time with others and find a sense of belonging.
Some members have told Larmeu they rely on the center to get them out of the house and that participating in its activities feels like therapy.
“It’s fun seeing the seniors’ faces light up,” she said.
That sense of fulfillment is what keeps her looking forward to work.
“There’s a lot of jobs out there that pay a lot more, but when you really love what you’re doing, and when it’s Monday morning and you’re not like, ‘Oh, I got to go to work today,’ I don’t ever look at my job that way. I am always looking forward to it,” Larmeu said. “It is so rewarding, and I have found so much joy from this job,” she added.
Larmeu also understands that members have busy lives and cannot attend every event. Her goal is not to fill every seat at every activity, but to make sure opportunities are available when people are ready to participate.
Through programs such as Breakfast with the Locals, the DeWitt Senior Center offers more than a calendar of activities. It gives seniors a reason to get out into their community, introduces them to businesses in their own backyard and creates opportunities for neighbors to get to know one another.
The next Breakfast with the Locals outings are scheduled for Fridays, Nov. 6 and Dec. 11. Participants should meet at the DeWitt Senior Center at 8:15 a.m. for both events.
For more information about upcoming activities, follow the DeWitt Senior Center on Facebook or visit the Village of DeWitt website.
Businesses interested in hosting a Breakfast with the Locals outing can call or text Larmeu at (402) 239-1015.
