Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Community and Seniors Together (CAST) administrators accepted a grant from New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF) during senior exercise classes. L to R: CAST president Wayne Wagner, CAST executive Director Cara Knauf, NUAF board member Kathy Van Roekel, NUAF board member Shannon Hillesheim and NUAF executive Director John Illikman.

NEW ULM — Community and Seniors Together (CAST) Senior Center Programs and Activities received a $5,000 grant from the New Ulm Area Foundations (NUAF), Tuesday.

The grant will help provide social, educational and recreational for senior citizens in the New Ulm area. CAST also provides informational activities and programs.

CAST has served New Ulm since 1984. Director Cara Knauf said an average of 75 seniors comes to CAST program at the community center each weekday.

Weekly activities at CAST include bingo, bridge, cribbage, Hand and Foot, Scrabble, sheephead and 500. Group activities include CASTLE Lifelong Learning, the greeting card recylcers, Little Dresses Sewers and the MusicMakers.

NUAF executive Director John Illikman said CAST programming met several of the foundation’s core pillars; especially in terms of education and historic preservation.

One of the goals of CAST is to keep seniors active and social. Isolation, loneliness and boredom are common in senior citizens and can lead to mental and physical health issues that diminish their quality of life. CAST’s mission is to assist them in maintaining health, fitness, vitality and independence.