Barnhart resigns as senior center executive director
After nearly four years in the position, Becky Barnhart has announced her resignation as executive director of the Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County.
Barnhart has accepted a position with Owensboro Community & Technical College's Workforce Solutions department.
Her last day with the senior center will be Oct. 25.
"It really came out of the blue," said Barnhart of her decision to make a career change. "I applied, and here we are. It was as good opportunity for me, with benefits and others things that I needed at this stage of my life.
"I have a real passion for the seniors and the senior center. It's obviously mixed emotions about stepping down."
Barnhart started at the senior center in November of 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic. The situation created challenges, but also gave her time to get her footing.
"The senior center was closed for activities because of COVID, but we were still serving up to 650 meals through our home delivery meal program during COVID," she said. "That shift had already happened, but then they just kept increasing. It was a really quick learning curve, and actually, in hindsight, I can see that it was a blessing we were closed when I first started, because it gave me some time to get used to what we were doing."
Barnhart put a focus on having more opportunities for seniors to be involved in activities once the senior center reopened.
"When the senior center opened in July 2021, we had an opportunity to reach more seniors than we had in the past, and I think folks were looking for something, because I still believe that the senior population was the most impacted by the COVID closures in terms if social isolation and loneliness. I wanted to see us create more things that would speak to more seniors."
Of the many initiatives Barnhart spearheaded, she said she's most proud of the Pet Meals on Wheels, which helps seniors acquire pet food, in addition to providing them with visits from the program's drivers.
"That program was huge, and I got that off the ground," she said. "That's just another way to reach our homebound folks that need a little help and need some assistance, and we want to help them take care of their pets because it's so important. I'm very proud of that. I'm proud of a lot of things that we started, pickleball, different classes and events and activities."
Pam Smith-Wright, Owensboro city commissioner and chairman of the senior center board, said Barnhart's impact on the senior center has been immense, including her having increased its membership and having worked diligently on the resolution of a site for the new senior center.
"Whatever came about that was going to be beneficial for our seniors, she was right on top of it," Smith-Wright said. "Becky has a heart for seniors, and she came in at the right time and put us on footing to where we can pick up and move forward. We have the basis of a new senior center, and Becky was a big part of that, leading us in that direction.
"I am so excited for her to get this opportunity. It's going to benefit her more than we could do at the senior center. We hate to lose her, but people have to do what they have to do, and I'm happy for her."
Barnhart said the senior center will always hold a special place in her heart, with it having provided a place for her mother to socialize.
"My mom was a volunteer at the senior center in the last couple of years of her life, so it was always important place for us, as her kids, because we knew she had some place to go and to engage with people and not just sit home and be bored and lonely," Barnhart said. "So when the position came open, it was something I felt very passionate about.
"Many of those folks are like pseudo parents or big sisters and big brothers."
Barnhart said the transition is made easier by her knowing that the center is poised for great things ahead.
"I think I've left it in a spot where it will be easy for someone to take over and then take it to the finish line with the new building," she said. "I'll be right there for the groundbreaking. So I'm excited about that."
