The primary purpose for the senior center is to provide recreation resources and opportunities in order to improve health and well being of people ages 55 and up. Saraland Senior Center718 Mae St, Saraland, ALHours of Operation:Monday  Friday  8 a.m. 4:30 p.m.Saturday & Sunday CLOSEDFrequently Asked Questions1. When are you open?We are open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.2. How do I join the fun at the Saraland Senior Center?Come on over to the senior center at 712 Mae Street (next to the Civic Center) and fill out an application.3. Is there a cost?Programs are provided free of charge. There may be a small fee for breakfasts and special events.4. What kind of activities do you offer?We schedule health seminars, cooking and sewing classes, arts & crafts, dominoes and board games, and of course, bingo. The Red Hat society and the Sunshine Club meet here. We also schedule and provide transportation to various venues for fun and education. We also have pool tables, a quilting room, a place for scrap booking and occasional sing alongs. There is even a strength and balance exercise class and a fitness room with equipment just for you.5. Do you have computer classes?We do not offer computer classes, but we do have a computer lab that you are welcome to use.6. When can I use the fitness room or pool tables?Any time we are open.7. Who can use the facility?Anyone from Mobile County is welcome! We invite everyone 50+ to come and enjoy our programs. We are very proud of our Senior building. The building is easily accessible for all to participate.*Alabama Elderly Nutrition Program Through a grant with the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC) and the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) the Alabama Elderly Nutrition Program provide seniors daily with nutritious meals combined with social activities and fellowship. Hot meals are served daily at 11 am. You must apply to be a part of this program.Contact Saraland Parks and Recreation Senior Center at 251-679-5511

Nice Things to Know About Saraland The Gateway to Progress Saraland formed its own city school system in 2006. It is now ranked among the best school systems in the State of Alabama.  Students receive outstanding education in fields such as nursing, engineering and welding in state-of-the-art facilities. Since its inception, the Saraland City School system has more than doubled in size, from 1500 students in 2009 to over 3000 students now. This is but one example of the tremendous growth that the City of Saraland is experiencing. The City of Saraland was recently designated as an Alabama Community of Excellence. Saraland was the first and, to date, the only municipality in Mobile County to receive this honor. Saraland enjoys a very low crime rate which can be attributed, in part, to our police department. With their professional approach to community policing, the police team with our residents to provide a safe environment.  Our citizens also benefit from outstanding fire and paramedic services with expedient response from three well-equipped stations throughout the City including 24/7 paramedic coverage.  Additional city employees provide a wide variety of top notch services to ensure our residents and guests have safe roads, parks and facilities. The Infirmary Medical Campus has opened a multi-specialty clinic facility as well as a diagnostic center offering MRI/CT capability. Mobile Infirmary has opened a new freestanding emergency department in Saraland. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, emergency care is provided. Future phases of expansion will outpatient surgery center and ultimately a hospital. Many new businesses are locating to Saraland. Publix, Cracker Barrel, Whataburger and several other new restaurants and retail businesses are planned.  Saraland is home to over a dozen hotels including new hotel properties such as Fairfield Inn, Towne Place Suites, and Hampton Inn. Youth sports activities are very popular in Saraland. Saraland has, at present, 11 city parks for recreational activities of every kind. Plans are presently being considered for a state-of-the-art sports complex which may include facilities for baseball, softball, tennis, and soccer. The City recently opened the McAuthor-McKinney Recreation Center which offers an outstanding venue for young people to play basketball, volleyball and other activities. Saraland is a very family-friendly community. The City Splash Pad is now open. Also contemplated are an outdoor amphitheater for concerts and a Summer Movie Night series and an aquatics center. The Saraland Senior Center offers many activities for active seniors. Arts and crafts, painting, card games, pool, exercise equipment and computer lab are available with many classes provided.  A nutritious lunch is available weekdays at the center with Meals-On-Wheels delivering food to homebound seniors. Located adjacent to the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, scenic boating, canoeing, fishing and other watersports opportunities abound. Saraland is part of the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust, home to some of the most biologically diverse habitat in Alabama.  This preserved scenic area is also popular for camping, hiking with multiple trails available, and bird watching. Saralands mayor, Dr. Howard Rubenstein, currently serves as the President of the Alabama League of Municipalities. He is the only Mobile County elected official to be chosen for this statewide honor since 1979.  HistoryThe area that was to become the present day Saraland was included in a Spanish land grant to Don Diago Alvarez. Hence, descendants of Alvarez were the ones to give the community its first name Alvarez Station. Later land squatters moved into the area and were able, legally, in 1800 to begin purchasing property. In 1807 a land office was opened in St. Stephens to handle all land transactions. Some of the pioneer families who seized the opportunity to buy up sections were named Alvarez, Rice, Hartley, Moore, LaCoste, Williams, Tool and Cleveland. Ultimately, Alvarez Station was called Cleveland Station. The present name of the city is reported to have been given by C.J. DeWitt, a retired minister editor who moved south in 1890 for health reasons. He opened the first post office on the Southern Railroad in 1895. The Community is purported to be the namesake of his beloved wife, Sara. Saraland was sparsely populated during the first part of the 20th century, until an industrial and population boom occurred in neighboring Mobile. Northward expansion of Mobile in the 1940s and 1950s brought about the incorporation of Saraland in 1957. At the time of incorporation, the city reported only 125 residents. By the 1960 U.S. Census, annexations had swelled the population to 4,595. In 1980, census figures cited 9,844 Saraland residents. Current records report that as of 2020, Saralands population has grown to 16,319.Interested in Senior Activities in Saraland?  Contact the Saraland Senior Center at 251-679-5511

Wings of Comfort: The Retreat Hospice by Saad Outdoor Oasis Transformed by Home Depot's GenerosityAt The Retreat Hospice by Saad, a haven dedicated to providing compassionate care during life's final season, an extraordinary transformation unfolded in 2023, thanks to the benevolent partnership with The Home Depot Foundation. This collaboration showcases the power of community service and highlights the incredible impact that thoughtful gestures can have on the lives of those facing the challenges of hospice care.Each year, local Home Depot stores rally theireams, resources, and expertise for community improvement projects. The range of initiatives is vast, from building homes for veterans to crafting bird sanctuaries for families in need. The Retreat Hospice became a recipient of Home Depot's volunteer projects, turning their grounds into a serene haven for patients and their families.Brian Clifford, the local Home Depot manager, collaborated closely with the dedicated team at Saad to bring to life a project that would resonate with the unique needs of Southern Alabama's population. The result was an oasis designed to connect patients with the tranquility found in nature, particularly through the enchanting world of native birds.One heartwarming suggestion from the family of a guest at The Retreat Hospice led to the creation of bird-friendly spaces visible from patient rooms. When the opportunity arose for Home Depot to enhance the hospice's grounds, the decision was clear a project that aligned with the desires of those seeking solace in the beauty of nature.Home Depot's generous donation included over 20 unique birdhouses, bird baths, feeders, vibrant flowers for a butterfly garden, lush shrubbery, potted plants, and new rock lining the walking trails. The transformation aimed to offer guests and their loved ones a variety of spaces for reflection, connection, and respite.The birdhouses, strategically hung from trees just outside each patients porch, have become focal points where families can be found rocking together, sharing laughter, shedding tears, reading, or simply enjoying quiet moments alone. The addition of beautifully landscaped areas and improved walking trails further enhances the hospice's commitment to providing a peaceful and comforting environment.The collaboration between The Retreat Hospice and Home Depot represents more than just physical improvements; it symbolizes a community coming together to support one another. The project not only contributes to the well-being of current patients and their families but also leaves a lasting legacy of compassion and kindness.To Home Depot, The Retreat Hospice expresses heartfelt gratitude for the choice to partner with them. The generosity and joyful service displayed by Home Depot's "army in orange" have left an indelible mark on the hospice's mission to care for the community with excellence. This transformative project will continue to be a source of comfort and solace for those navigating the final season of life, reminding everyone involved of the profound impact that acts of kindness can have on the human spirit. The Retreat Hospice by Saad is a private, freestanding hospice respite located in Mobile, Alabama.  They offer 24-hour resort-level care.  Contact the Retreat Hospice by Saad at 251-380-3810. 

Can Someone Else Drive My Car? Discover what happens if someone else drives your car and gets into an accident. There are times in life when we need to let someone borrow our car, but we hesitate allowing them to use it because we don't know if we can, or if we should. We wonder:          Can my grandchild use my car to drive to the grocery store?         Can my friend drive my car?         Can my brother-in-law or other family member borrow my car for the weekend?         Can I drive someone else's car?         Will my friend's insurance cover any damages I cause while driving their vehicle?         Do irregular drivers need to be added to my policy?        At the heart of it, we want to know, "If we give them permission and they get into an accident, is it covered by my insurance? Is it legal for someone to drive my car who is not on my insurance policy?" "Generally, it's not a problem if they're driving with your consent," says Jeanne Salvatore, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and consumer spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. "If it's an occasional use, say I borrow your car to go pick up milk, and as long as permission has been verbally granted, you'll typically be covered." But borrowing a car under other circumstances may not be as clear-cut. It depends on your insurer and your particular policy. For example, coverage rules and regulations may be different if the driver lives in your household and could, or should, be listed as a named insured on your policy, but is not; or, if the driver is listed on your policy as excluded. Those more complicated situations would need to be discussed with your agent and claim representative. Typically, even if the person driving your car has his or her own insurance, your insurance will be the primary payer for damages caused by your vehicle; but, the person driving your car has to be found legally at fault before your insurance will pay. The driver's insurance is secondary and may cover some personal injury or medical expenses. It may also provide coverage in excess of your insurance coverage, if the cost of damages caused by your vehicle is higher than your policy limits."When you have someone you employ, such as a nanny or a nurse, who will be a regular, additional driver in your household, contact your insurance agent about your policy," Salvatore recommends. "He or she may need to be added to it."Because the policy terms and state laws can vary widely, always contact your insurance agent before loaning out your car, or other motor vehicle, such as: a motorcycle, boat, personal watercraft, snowmobile, ATV or RV. "Anytime you have a question about your policy, call your insurance agent first," says Salvatore. "You always want to let the insurance company know the circumstances. Get their advice." As with anything else, use good judgment and common sense. Make sure you are fully aware of the liability you may be opening yourself, and your auto policy, up to before handing over your keys. "Don't be cavalier about lending your car," adds Salvatore. "If you know someone isn't a good driver, think twice about giving your permission. Any crash they're in could go on your insurance record."  This article was contributed by Laurel Flowers State Farm Insurance Agent located in beautiful Saraland, Alabama.  You can contact Laurel and her fabulous team for all of your insurance needs.  Call 251-675-4736.