By: Oniska Blevins

Senior citizens stepped out to shake a tail feather while gaining much needed information Tuesday morning at the May Day Celebration.

May is Older Americans month, and the Alabama Tombigbee Area Agency on Aging and Alabama Cooperative Extension System celebrates the seniors each year with a fun filled program.

Delia Brand, director of the Alabama Tombigbee Area Agency on Aging, said the event is designed for everyone to have fun and network.

“It’s an opportunity for them to get out and socialize with other seniors and meet new people,” Brand said.

Guest had the chance to win door prizes and participate in both the pie contest and spring hat contest.

At the start of the event, guests visited vendors and gathered information on their services.

Legacy Hospice, Senior Adults Living Triumphantly, Social Security Administration and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama were a few of the vendors present.

There were also three speakers for the event, each providing tips for a longer and healthier lifestyle.

Brenda Cherry, Red Cross volunteer trainer, spoke on how change in life should be seen as a good thing. Cherry kept the crowd laughing as she shared some personal, yet inspirational messages.

Mamie Solomon, a retired educator, got the group up and moving during her “Moving for Your Health” segment. This portion was a crowd favorite, as seniors got up to boogie down with Solomon.

Callie Nelson, county extension coordinator for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, led an informative segment on healthy homes and how to prevent slips and falls.

Brand said the organizations were excited to see so many seniors at the event.

“I think we’ve got maybe more people here than usual here today,” she said.

The Alabama Tombigbee Area Agency on Aging covers ten counties, and each year five of those counties are invited to the celebration in Selma.

Wilcox, Dallas, Perry, Marengo and Sumter Counties were represented at the event Tuesday.

“We do a range of progams that are designed to help senior citizens and disabled persons to remain independent and in their community for as long as possible,” Brand said.

The remaining five counties within the organization’s service are invited to the celebration in Jackson.