On those three days, they get to enjoy games, a book club, craft sessions, plus lunch and snacks.

Now that may sound like a day camp, but this program is not a typical day camp. It’s called Golden Day Adult Day, and its participants are people with disabilities striving to live their best lives.

On Monday, the Golden Day Adult Day participants and staff celebrated the program’s one-year anniversary with members of the community.

The concept of the program had been discussed by parents of adult children with disabilities since at least 2020 with some occasional meetings starting in 2022. The program started in its current form in June 2024.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Bev Potter, program coordinator for Golden Day Adult Day, admires a ceramic tray she was given that bears a quote from Walt Disney, which was: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” Potter was given the gift Monday as Golden Day Adult Day celebrated its one-year anniversary.

On Monday afternoon, the participants and staff honored Bev Potter, the Golden Day program coordinator, by presenting her with a ceramic tray with a quote from Walt Disney painted on it. The quote is, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

While she didn’t call the task impossible, state Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, said leaders of Golden Day accomplished something remarkable by managing to start a new service that requires some level of state funding and state supervision.

“My hat’s off to all the volunteers,” said state Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge. “You guys really make the program and make it easy for Ann and I to advocate for the program.”

Golden Day got its name because one of the very first participants was a big fan of the old TV series “The Golden Girls,” according to Potter.

The phrase “thank you for being a friend” was a line in the show’s theme song and has become kind of a slogan for Golden Day.

Golden Day Adult Day is in session from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Citizens Central, 617 Central Ave.

Potter said the program currently has 11 participants, but about 18 to 20 could be accommodated. The program, she said, is for people ages 18 and up.

Each day there is a book club session during which Potter reads to the group. There is time for playing games and making crafts. And every day, the group sits in a big circle to talk and learn about different things. Potter said recent topics have included national parks, states and cities.

The Golden Day staff is assisted by other volunteers. Two of the younger volunteers — 13-year-old Hadley McKinney and 11-year-old Landry McKinney — were on hand Monday. The Fort Dodge girls represent Iowa in the National America Miss scholarship pageant and came to the anniversary celebration wearing their sashes and carrying their crowns in plastic boxes.

The girls help with programs and games.

“I like playing the games with all of them,” Hadley McKinney said.