The Farmingdale Adult Day Care Center, a non-profit organization in operation since 1996, strives to help maintain and stimulate mental and physical capabilities to the best of the client's ability. Recently their attendance numbers have dropped and they are seeking new clients.

Lisa Twomey, who sits on the FADC board as a representative from St. Luke's Lutheran Church, said, "it is becoming increasingly evident that the center is in need of increasing the number of clients."

"As we [the board] sat talking, most of us in the board realized that there are so many people who do not know that the center exists," she added. "We know that the center serves a need in the community and a very valuable one at that."

Between 12 and 22 clients attend FADC on a daily basis, "although I wish it were more on the 22 end," FADC Director Brandi Fromm said. The center can accommodate up to 25 clients.

FADC's purpose is to reach out in support of families who are caring for the elderly living at home, especially those with physical or cognitive limitations who are no longer able to participate in their normal social groups. Volunteers and paid staff members run the center.

Jo Wider, a representative for St. Kilian's, past president of the FADC board and volunteer for the past seven years, said she needed something to do with her life.

"I get more than I give and they make me feel young, she added. "It's an outlet for me."

According to their website, FADC provides supervised socialization and a variety of appropriate activities designed to engage and stimulate the clients. The Center strives to maintain and stimulate mental and physical capabilities to the best of the clients' abilities.

Fromm said the center helps out what's called the "sandwich" generation - those taking care both of their parents and their children.

"We give their parents a place to go and be socialized while they're out working or running errands," she said. "I feel like I'm giving quality of life to the elderly. Just seeing the happiness on their faces, that they've accomplished something, makes me happy."

Wider added that without the center's existence, some of the clients would probably be in nursing homes or require full time care at home.

"By these clients attending the program it delays the amount of time that they would spend in a nursing home, because eventually most of them will end up going into a nursing home from here," she said.

It is offered at the Farmingdale United Methodist Church, located at 407 Main St. in Farmingdale. The only ecumenical program in Farmingdale, it is an interfaith community supported by the cooperative efforts of Farmingdale United Methodist Church, Farmingdale Jewish Center, St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church, St. Thomas Episcopal Church and St. Luke Lutheran Church.

Limited local transportation is provided by St. Kilian's Social Outreach Ministry. A handicapped equipped van allows for door-to-door service. Nutritious hot lunches are provided through the services of Daleview Nursing Home.

The program was started 11 years ago and was the brainchild of Sister Carmelina Lally. She ran a similar program in Huntington and saw a need for it in Farmingdale.

"It was initially only two days a week and as the community came to us, we extended it," Fromm explained.

FADC is open from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $37 per day and that includes breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. For more information visit www.fdale.com/Farmingdale/FADC.htm or call 293-8928. Assistant Director Rhea Sommers also runs a support group for families on the last Wednesday of each month at Farmingdale United Methodist Church.