Rest-a-While Service Centre for the Aged, in Primrose, hosted its 56th birthday celebration on September 29.

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There was music, sweets, cake and drinks for the attendees to enjoy, as well as music for them to dance to.

Local business Post a Cake donated the cake and handed a certificate of appreciation to the centre.

The centre was formed by a group of women who played cards together once a week and enjoyed socialising over a cup of tea.

They soon discovered there was a greater need for a group like this in the community of Germiston.

Today, the main objective of the service centre is to supply well-balanced cooked meals to the elderly in Primrose and the surrounding areas.

Cooked on their premises, they sponsor up to 50 individual meals to elderly members of the community and the disadvantaged community that can’t afford a meal. When available, grocery hampers are also handed out.

“We are always in need of donations for this purpose. Our kitchen is in desperate need of an upgrade,” said centre manager Trudy de Jesus Carreira.

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Despite the challenges the centre faces, celebrations of their existence of close to six decades continued.

The centre held its first official meeting in May 1966.

To date, they host skills development classes on Mondays for fabric painting, jewellery making, decoupage and Mandala colouring therapy classes.

“On Tuesday we have a spiritual upliftment morning service. A different minister comes and holds a service and we serve tea/cake afterwards to allow the members to socialise with one another.

“The centre continues to run its sewing/ knitting workshops on Wednesdays.

“On Thursdays, they socialise and play bingo and members get to win prizes.

“Friday’s occupational exercise and line dancing class is given with the elderly in mind. Chair exercises is a big hit now and the chance of injury is less,” said Trudy.