General Info

Corbin Senior Activity Center promotes a philosophy to seniors, which encourages continuing education, keeping active in mind, body and spirit, making friends and enjoying life. As a goal, Corbin will continue to enhance its programs to meet the needs of the growing senior population. In 1967, the old Corbin Park Methodist Church building was standing vacanta target for vandalism and a neighborhood eyesore. A far-sighted neighbor took this as a challenge to begin a program for seniors. They advertised and a hand full of interested people met to begin to lay the groundwork for what has become the most successful Senior Center in Spokane! Through the efforts of Corbin's early pioneers and assistance of Doug Yeager, then director of the Area Agency on Aging, and the City of Spokane, a Grant was written with the newly legislated Older Americans Act to secure funding for this new venture. The Methodist Church also cooperated in this effort by loaning the building to the center for a very nominal fee. A part time staff person was hired as a secretary in 1967 to assist the center's director. In the early years the center operated on a very limited schedule. It wasn't long before interest began to grow. Potlucks, card parties, knitting, crocheting, arts and crafts became the nucleus of activity. An idea was bornDAY TRIPS! Routes were scouted out and then a bus was hired so they could take groups out on tour. The idea caught hold very quickly and soon people were asking for more than a day trip. Before we knew it, a very successful Tour Program was begun, Corbin Tours. In the mean time the center was growing and a monthly newsletter was published. The Spokane Parks & Recreation department was very involved in the funding of the center. In 1972 the grant money from the Older Americans Act was running out but at the same time the tours were really showing signs of success. In 1974 a full time secretary and activity director were hired. The center itself was becoming busier and busier with new classes and activities being added monthly. The next 20 years brought incredible change, the tour program, still growing added 1 more person to the centers staff. Corbin Tours begins its overseas programs to complement the domestic program and day tour programs. The Henderson Hall was remodeled to create a functional activity room that holds 150 people. A dumbwaiter was added so they could serve lunches from the kitchen downstairs to the people sitting upstairs. A new addition to the building was added in 1990 making the center almost twice its size! There were now 3 classrooms, each holding up to fifty people as well as wheelchair access to both levels of the building. In 1994 a full commercial kitchen and dining room were added next to the Henderson Room providing an additional 50 seats for our lunches. The old kitchen downstairs was turned into our Lapidary room. A parking lot was built to the south of the center. It is now the year 2010 and our staff has once again grown, now employing 3 people. Corbin is currently serving the needs of over 2100 members! We have a new coffee station and are working on getting an elevator. Our continuing education program has expanded to include Spokane's Community College Senior Programs; oil, water and china painting; bridge, pinochle, scrabble, mahjong and poker; American history, genealogy, Spanish and German language classes; tai chi, hiking, low impact aerobic, hula, ballroom, clogging and line dancing. We have completed an addition to our building that now houses Corbin's Thrifty Boutique, a valuable fundraiser for Corbin. The building is busy 24 hours a day! Many groups use the building to hold meetings, potlucks, parties and family celebrations. Corbin's Day Tours have also grown from just a couple every month to offering 15-20 tours each month! We travel around our area locally and also go to events outside of town. Once a month we go to dinner at a local restaurant ( taking as many as