Seniors honored, awareness raised at annual Senior Appreciation Day in Kinston
A crowd filled the Kinston Community Center on Wednesday for the annual Senior Appreciation Day and Elder Abuse Awareness Walk, a community-wide event honoring Older Americans Month and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Held under the national theme “Flip the Script on Aging,” the celebration aimed to both uplift the senior population and raise awareness about the critical issue of elder abuse.
The day began with an awareness walk, led by the Lenoir County Department of Social Services. Participants made laps around the upper level of the community center, holding a banner urging action to “Stop Elder Abuse.” Many attendees wore purple in support of the cause.
“We do this every year in May to honor our older Americans,” said Betsy Griffin, Director of the Lenoir County Council on Aging. “All of our services come from the Older Americans Act, signed into law by President Reagan. We used to hold the elder abuse awareness event separately in June, but found combining the two helped increase turnout and impact.”
Griffin also spoke about the growing concerns over possible cuts to federal and state senior services funding, including Meals on Wheels and other essential nutrition programs. “We don’t know what services we’ll be able to keep,” she said. “It’s time for us to tell our local and national representatives that seniors matter. They’ve worked their whole lives, paid into the system, and deserve to age with dignity.”
Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Hardy delivered an official proclamation from the City of Kinston, recognizing the value and contributions of older adults in the region and affirming the city’s commitment to supporting elder care initiatives.
Sponsors for the event included the Lenoir County Council on Aging, Kinston Community Center, Lenoir County Department of Social Services, Lenoir County Health Department, UNC Lenoir Health Care, White & Allen, P.A., Spring Arbor of Kinston, and the ECC Area Agency on Aging.
In addition to the walk and a free lunch for attendees aged 60 and up, the event featured a robust health fair, live entertainment, raffle prizes, and informational tables from a variety of agencies and nonprofits.
One such table was hosted by Kelly Tyndall, family and consumer sciences agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Tyndall offered seniors hurricane preparedness tips and advice on how to maintain access to enjoyable and nutritious food even during emergency power outages.
“We’re helping seniors prepare for hurricane season by showing them how to safely store and prepare food during power outages, and what supplies to keep on hand—like flashlights, radios, batteries, and first aid kits,” said Tyndall. “It’s also important to have foods they enjoy. Disasters are stressful, and small comforts—like a favorite snack—can make a real difference. If you love Doritos, make sure you’ve got a bag.”
The event wrapped up with advocacy materials distributed to every table, encouraging participants to speak up about the importance of elder services. Organizers urged attendees to contact lawmakers or write op-eds and letters to the editor, stressing that the future of senior support programs may depend on visible, vocal community engagement.
As Older Americans Month continues, the message from Kinston is clear: North Carolina's seniors deserve respect, protection, and a strong system of support.
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