Are we ever too old to make new friends? Absolutely not, say the senior citizens who gather on Tuesday mornings for SALT (Seniors Are Living Treasures). The group meets for fun, friendship and fellowship from 9 a.m. to noon weekly at Mount Joy Church of God, 30 E. Main St., Mount Joy.

"We might have anywhere from 25 to 30 people each week," said Tracy Miller, who coordinates the group with a team of volunteers. "We have people in their 50s and up. Our oldest member is 93."

Each meeting begins with people gathering up to 30 minutes early in the church lobby, enjoying the time to catch up with each other before heading into the chapel for coffee, food and games such as Uno or Apples to Apples.

Coordinator Debbie Cohn might lead the group in chair yoga, or coordinator Renee Haney might direct a small group in devotionals or take prayer requests. Coordinator Nancy Shonk is in charge of the snack calendar, ensuring that everyone who wants to bring food has a chance to do so.

The group does some activities once a month, such as playing bingo or enjoying a movie together. They also play round-robin matches of games like cornhole or ladderball, switching tables regularly to encourage interaction among everyone. The group also brings in guest speakers to discuss a wide range of topics. Once a quarter, the church's pastor, Richard Vaughn, provides a full breakfast for the group.

Although SALT meets at the church, religious affiliation is not a requirement to join the group.

"It's just a ministry through our church," Miller said. "We will take anybody who is interested in coming. Some people come week after week. Some people have other activities they're involved in and can only come once a month, and that's OK."

Many of the members have lost a spouse and are looking for connection and companionship. That's the case for Connie Bear, who started coming to SALT when the ministry began in October of 2024.

"Today is three years since I lost my husband," she said on a recent Tuesday morning. "In my marriage, I didn't have friends really beyond my husband, so I was looking for somewhere to go to have fellowship and make new friends. I was looking for companionship."

She found that at SALT.

"Everybody is so nice here," she said. "We love each other. There are so many wonderful people here, and you feel like a family. I now have lots of friends to do things with, and we meet up outside of these mornings. We talk to each other outside of these meetings."

Fellowship is the focus of SALT meetings, although the food is a close second, the members joke.

"Everyone pitches in, and it's wonderful," Shonk said. "This room is filled with people who have found connection with each other."

SALT began when Miller recruited a few of her friends to help form the ministry. Seventeen people showed up for the first meeting, and the group has grown to include members from across Lancaster County.

"There isn't a senior center in the Mount Joy/Manheim area, and while we don't want to be a senior center, we do want to provide outreach ministry," Miller said. "We want to provide connection and fellowship."

While SALT officially meets once a week, its members get together regularly outside of the program, including meeting up for wing night at Beanie's in Mount Joy or driving each other to doctor appointments.

They also support each other through tough times.

When Renee's husband, Doug, passed away in August, SALT members showed up for her.

"Eighteen people from here came to my husband's funeral, and most had never met him," she said. "We take care of each other. A lot of the people who come have said how lonely they were before this. Now they look forward to this. I can't imagine a week going by without coming to this."

For member Mae Pierce, SALT has provided an opportunity to push herself outside of her comfort zone.

"I needed to challenge myself to get out of the house," she said. "SALT stands for Seniors Are Living Treasures, but this salt is the flavor that's now part of my life. It's gone beyond what it was supposed to be. I have met so many awesome friends. I go to the grocery story or a craft fair, and someone will yell out, 'Mae!' It's so nice to have made so many connections."

"There's fun stuff to do here. You'll meet some characters, meet some sweet people and make some new friends," Pierce continued. "It's a community. You don't have to be alone for that one morning a week."

SALT is open to anybody who is interested in attending, and people can just show up on a Tuesday morning; they do not need to register. The ministry is held year-round. People may park on the street and enter the church off of Main Street or access the building without climbing steps through the East Henry Street entrance via a parking lot at the rear of the church. For more information, visit www.mountjoychurchofgod.org or call 717-653-4695.