Your Senior Center, Your Community: Why Membership Matters

Walk into an Aster Senior Center on any given weekday and you'll find the same thing: the smell of a delicious hot lunch, the sound of laughter over cards or bingo, and the joyful hum of conversation in the café. For thousands of older adults across the East Valley, the Senior Center isn't just a place to go — it's a place to belong, a place to find your friends, and a place to find your community.

At the Red Mountain and Mesa Downtown Senior Centers, we are here every weekday to offer nutritious meals, live music, art and exercise classes, health and wellness programs, and the kind of everyday connection that makes getting older feel less like a solitary journey and more like a shared one. For many participants, the Center has become a second home — a reason to get up, get dressed, and get out the door.

We are deeply grateful to the Government agencies, private foundations, and generous funding partners whose contributions make the Senior Centers possible. But there's another piece of the puzzle, one that comes directly from the people who walk through the doors every day: our membership program.

A Small Gift With a Big Impact

Membership is optional, but it matters. For $24 or more per year, you can become official member of the Senior Center — a gesture that helps sustain the very programs you rely on and love. It's a simple way to say, "This place matters to me, and I want to help it keep going."

Join partway through the year, and your fee is prorated. Enroll in October, for example, and you'll only pay for the final three quarters.

What You Get in Return

Membership comes with its own set of perks throughout the year, including:

• Quarterly member appreciation coupons redeemable for puzzles, café snacks, DVDs, and more
• Invitations to two annual member appreciation socials
• Entry into two annual member prize drawings
• An official 2026/2027 Aster membership card

More than the coupons or the card, though, membership is a badge of belonging — a small, tangible sign that you're part of a community that shows up for one another.

How to Join

Becoming a member is easy. Just visit the Front Desk at either the Red Mountain or Mesa Downtown Senior Center and talk with a member of Aster's team. They'll walk you through enrollment and answer any questions on the spot.

Have questions before you visit? Email cbs@asteraz.org or call 480-964-9014, and Aster's staff will be happy to help.

Thank You

To every participant who has ever shared a meal, danced at a social, or simply pulled up a chair in the café — thank you. Your presence is what makes the Senior Center a community, and your support through membership helps ensure that community continues to thrive for years to come.

About Aster Aging

Aster Aging is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has served local communities since 1979. Aster provides a full continuum of services to help older adults and their families navigate aging with independence and dignity, impacting thousands of older adults and their families in the East Valley through four core programs: In-Home Support, Meals on Wheels, Outreach & Social Services, and Senior Centers.

Senior Centers

Aster's Senior Centers serve as social hubs, offering lunchtime meals and a full slate of daily activities. Each Center operates its own café, providing a casual gathering spot for friends to share a snack and conversation. Regularly scheduled offerings include:

• Daily, nutritionally balanced lunch
• Live music and movies
• Art, exercise, and dance classes
• Education and health & wellness programs
• Bingo games

Visit your local Senior Center at Mesa Downtown or Red Mountain to learn more or purchase a membership.