Union County's senior citizens have had an eventful summer. Melanie Dykes, director of the Office on Aging said this year's election has brought lots of visitors to Union County's senior centers.

"We have just been blessed with political candidates all summer," she said. "The seniors have just loved it. They've gotten to know who all the candidates are. A lot of them didn't know who the candidates were, especially in the mayor's race."

Starting with the annual fish fry at the Sharps Chapel Senior Center, political candidates have been visiting all senior center functions or just visiting with seniors on normal days. On July 3, Union County Senior Center in Maynardville hosted Red, White and Blue Day, with honors for senior veterans and a flag retirement ceremony by the Tri-County Veterans Honor Guard. The same center hosted two candidate forums within two weeks, one the evening of June 26, and another, sponsored by Union County Business and Professional Association, on July 10.

"We had probably one of the biggest turnouts they've ever had for a candidate forum," Dykes said.

The senior centers and the Office on Aging don't promote any candidates, but they do provide transportation to the polls for seniors who want to vote. All in all, Dykes said the election has infused some new energy into senior center activities.

"We've just got a different feel with the election and all that's going on," she said. "I didn't realize until we were going through the plans for the fish fry that so many of the seniors, especially the ones in Sharps Chapel, said they didn't know any of the candidates that were running. I think the seniors are better informed to vote now."

Dykes said to look for trips and an end-of-summer party next month, plus a chili fundraiser, Halloween parties and Thanksgiving outreach in the fall. She asked that folks send her referrals for the Thanksgiving outreach of people who are elderly, alone, ill or homebound. Last year, Office on Aging staff and volunteers delivered more than 100 Thanksgiving meals throughout the county, and they hope to do even more this year. The program isn't hurting for money thanks to donations from Clayton Homes, she said.

"Just call us and give us those names," said Dykes. "There's always people we don't know about. It's a way to make contact with people and give them our information."

She said the Office on Aging provides emergency groceries for seniors in need and accepts donations year-round. Particular needs include adult diapers, nutrition drinks like Ensure and Boost, and canned goods.

But most of all, she asked that people tell their elderly friends and neighbors that the senior center is a good place to be.

"There's a stigma that it's the nursing home, and it's really not," she said. "We provide transportation to the senior center, too. Just call us. We have our own vans, and we'd like to get our route built back up."

Info: 865-992-3292 or find Union County Senior Citizens Center on Facebook.