Does your mental picture of a senior center conjure up easy chairs, crochet crafts and old folks sitting around playing dominoes? If so, it’s time for a fresh perspective.

It turns out that the notion of the center as an old-timey social club for the elderly is a bit out of date. Trade the crafts for Wii bowling and the easy chairs for dance lessons.

Senior centers were created several decades ago to minister to seniors’ social needs. To stay healthy, we all need to stay mentally and physically active. For our minds and bodies, it’s a case of use it or lose it, and places like the Mount Si Senior Center in North Bend and the Sno Valley Senior Center in Carnation exist just for this reason.

But the centers also play a wider role, not only helping our older population stay nourished, active and independent, but younger people, too. Two programs, in particular, come to mind as things that you may not know about today’s senior center.

First, their lunch programs offers meals at surprisingly low cost, and no-one is turned away. For someone on a limited income, this may be a vital source of food.

Secondly, both of the Valley senior centers operate thriving thrift stores. Such second-hand shops are harder to find than they used to be. Our senior centers’ stores have grown to become major sources of revenue.

They also happen to be a great way for people to give their old goods new life, or pick up something needed on the cheap. You might even be able to discover a hidden ‘find.’

Besides these outreaches, centers also act as important social safety nets for seniors. Through buses, benefits consultants, health screenings and meals, these places help citizens remain part of their communities.

The Valley’s centers are now looking for ways to broaden their appeal and attract new participants. It’s a good time to acquaint yourself with what happens here. The people that you meet there are, far from forgotten, still contributing to their neighbors in many ways.

Do it for your own good. The more attention we pay now to our senior centers, the more likely they’ll still be there to help us in years to come, when we need them.

• Mount Si Senior Center is located at 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend. Sno Valley Senior Center is located temporarily at Camp Don Bosco, 1401 327th Ave. N.E., Carnation. You can learn more online at  mtsi-seniorcenter.org and www.snovalleysenior.org.