The clock chimes 8:00 a.m., and Surrey Services in Devon bursts alive with activity. Senior adults stream through the doors, their faces beaming with anticipation for the day’s events. Warm greetings fill the air as friends reunite, sharing smiles and stories. Laughter floats down the hallway as Pedro, the head chef, sends delicious aromas wafting through the building. Every corner of Surrey thrums with the joyful energy of community. It’s a place where warmth and laughter intertwine, creating a welcoming embrace that makes you feel instantly at home.
Instead of a traditional senior center, Surrey Services empowers older adults to embrace independence throughout their aging journey. As a nonprofit organization, they provide comprehensive support, regardless of income, with four conveniently located centers across the Philadelphia suburbs.
Since 1981, Surrey has empowered seniors to flourish in their communities through its unique “neighbor-helping-neighbor” model. Founded by local resident Jeanne LaRouche, Surrey boasts a dedicated team of over 400 volunteers and professional staff who work together to offer a comprehensive range of programs and essential services.
Surrey members arrive at Surrey Services in Devon, Pa. Surrey is a recreational center that provides activities and camaraderie for senior citizens and has served 3,348 members in total.Friends and Surrey Services members Karen (left) and Tina (right) share a laugh before their “Balance and Flow” class, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.Valerie focuses on the instructor as she tackles a crossword puzzle using movie stills as clues as part of the “Crossword Club.” Surrey offers several clubs, such as bridge, walking, knitting, crochet, French, and Rummikub.Piano music fills Surrey Services as Andy, a Ukrainian immigrant, shares his passion for music with members. Having left his homeland during the Nazi occupation, Andy finds solace and connection through music.Volunteer Wendy serves a three-course meal to members, prepared by Head Chef Pedro. Each member pays a $50 membership fee a year, which includes transportation, meals, grocery shopping, a consignment shop, home care, exercise and wellness classes, speaking events, art classes, and a veterans program.Members participate in an exercise class called “Balance and Flow,” using ribbon sticks and exercise balls to improve balance and mobility. Surrey emphasizes movement and fitness because with age that becomes one of the most crucial aspects of a healthy life.After lunch, a group of Surrey members engage in a mahjong game. Cards and board games are set up and members are free to play. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reported that nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated.A wall near the entrance of Surrey Services celebrates the “heart of the community,” Surrey’s dedicated volunteers who contributed over 3,500 hours of service in 2023.Member Rose departs the center in a transport van. Surrey is committed to providing free and accessible transportation services, including a recently acquired wheelchair-accessible van. According to a 2020 report by the AARP, 26% of adults aged 65 and older reported having difficulty getting to places they needed to go due to a lack of transportation.
