The Scituate Senior Center serves as a vibrant community resource for approximately 6,000 older adult residents of Scituate. Under the dedicated leadership of Linda Hayes Kelley, the center is more than just a place for senior activities: It plays an integral role in the everyday lives of many people living on the South Shore.
Serving as the director of the Senior Center for the past eleven years, Hayes Kelley was honored in October as the “Director of the Year” by the Massachusetts Council on Aging. This accomplishment is a testament to the unwavering commitment and profound impact Hayes Kelley has on the lives of residents. Nominated by Joanne Moore, director of the Duxbury Senior Center, Hayes Kelley was selected from 350 other senior center directors across the state, highlighting the exceptional nature of this accolade.
Working with her team, Hayes Kelley has established new services and opportunities for the Scituate community, including numerous classes, social and informational events, specific activities for seniors with memory loss, and several transportation options. Thanks to grants and partnerships, three vans operate daily to transport seniors wherever they need, including medical appointments in Boston.
With over 100 volunteers supporting the Senior Center’s mission, teamwork is emphasized under Hayes Kelley’s leadership. Reflecting on how much she loves her job, Hayes Kelley commented, “The work I do feels important…every day is a great day to be here.”
Approximately twelve SHS students volunteer at the Scituate Senior Center, and Hayes Kelley happens to be the aunt of SHS English teacher Meredith Pumphrey. Commenting on her aunt’s contribution, Pumphrey said, “My Aunt Linda is so deserving of this award because she is so dedicated with her work…the seniors love her and people come up to me all the time saying, ‘Linda is your aunt? I love her!’” Pumphrey further reaffirmed why her aunt was honored by the Council on Aging, saying, “Linda inspires me because she is always willing to have fun and be fun, and I think the seniors she works with thrive off of that.” Pumphrey and Hayes Kelley expressed the benefits of building relationships between SHS students and Scituate’s older adult community; according to Pumphrey, “both groups could certainly learn from each other.”
Hayes Kelley’s journey to the Scituate Senior Center was unconventional. Originally a resident of Duxbury, she began her career hoping to become a lawyer but found her true calling in 1988 while teaching business at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. During her year there, she discovered a passion for community service and the joy of promoting education. These interests eventually led her to the Duxbury Senior Center, where she served as Activities Coordinators and Assistant-Director for nine years.
Hayes Kelley describes her role in Scituate as one that involves many tasks, from overseeing financial aspects to coordinating maintenance at the Center and working closely with volunteers. Hayes Kelley believes the Senior Center helps many seniors remain happy and healthy, alleviating some of the burdens that often come with aging.
Being named the “Director of the Year” has not changed Hayes Kelley’s approach to her work; she views the distinction as a recognition of the collective efforts of everyone involved with the Senior Center: “It’s a nice validation that the hard work pays off,” she noted, adding that such recognition helps put Scituate “on the map” as a community that values its older people. Commenting that she has “the greatest job in America,” Hayes Kelley exemplifies what it means to serve a community.