Editor’s Note: Anderson SC Living is partnering with Rettew Creative to expand the audience for Storefront Stories as area businesses continue to rebuild from COVID-19. Bobby Rettew and digital media students from Anderson University’s Communications program recorded the first Storefront Story on April 22, 2021, and since have captured the experiences of almost 30 downtown businesses. Look for a Storefront Story every Wednesday here at Anderson SC Living.
While Covid affected the way the Jo Brown Senior Center delivered services to Anderson County’s senior citizens, it couldn’t kill the spirit of the county’s aging population.
“We knew that we needed to turn to this drive-thru experience so that our grandmas and grandpas would be able to have some opportunities to get out of their houses to still feel social and connected,” said Anderson County Senior Citizens Program Coordinator Kelly Jo Barnwell. “So, our parking lot became several parties last year and we still catered to about 200 of our seniors driving through.”
Programs at the Jo Brown Senior Activity Center in Anderson include recreation and wellness activities such as line dancing and OverEasy exercise classes, hobbies such as Tolly Arts & Crafts and Quilts of Valor, and clubs such as the Anderson Area Coin Club and Anderson County Bridge Club.
OverEasy exercise classes also are conducted in community centers throughout the county and led by senior leaders in the local municipalities.
Anderson County began funding programming for senior adults in 1981, with county residents 55 and older eligible to participate at no charge.
For more information senior adult programs in Anderson County, contact Kelly Jo Barnwell at (864) 231-2237 or kbarnwell@andersoncountysc.org.
This video story was crafted and produced by digital media students from Anderson University’s Communication Program. As an Assistant Professor of Communication and owner of Rettew Creative, Bobby Rettew led a team of students in the COM 351 Corporate Video Production class to create these stories. This project provided a unique opportunity where students were able to leverage their technical video production skills along with enhancing their soft skills by interacting with clients and connecting with the downtown Anderson business community.
Anderson University Production Team: Kayleigh Jamison, interviewer/camera operator; Rylee Brtek, producer; Aaron Bennett, editor/camera operator; Spencer Snow:, second camera operator/b-roll.
