This Ties That Bind Us is sponsored by Matt The Carpet Guy.
SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. - CHEER is marking its 55th year of serving Sussex County seniors in 2026 by continuing to provide programs and services that support older adults through social, wellness, and daily living activities.
Bingo is one of the many activities members continue to enjoy, with Diana Croteau at the Milton CHEER Center serving as the caller while also participating. Croteau said her husband passed away six years ago, and she moved to Delaware from Massachusetts four years ago with her daughter. Since then, she has been going to CHEER.
"I just like calling it because it makes people happy, and I just like putting smiles on people's faces, and I joke around when I play," Croteau said.
CHEER has eight centers across Sussex County, including a Spanish-speaking center in Georgetown, and offers a wide range of services for seniors, including adult day programs, transportation, and spaces for exercise and recreation.
CEO Becket Wheatley, who has been with the organization since 1994, said she has seen CHEER grow while maintaining its focus on supporting seniors. Wheatley began working at CHEER in the accounting department, later serving as chief financial officer for about 20 years before becoming CEO two years ago.
Wheatley said Sussex County's senior population is growing more than anywhere else in Delaware.
"We're always trying to find new programs that they're interested in and just keep expanding," she said.
"We also have a new travel club, which is more advanced trips. For example, we have a trip to Bermuda... so that's really nice," she added.
Wheatley said the organization continues to expand its services and facilities to meet the needs of seniors.
"The latest thing that we've done is we broke ground on our Gateway East Apartments. Right now, we have our CHEER Apartments that have 60 units for low-income seniors, and our plan is to build four more buildings, 59 units each. So, when it's all built out, it'll be about 300 apartments for seniors 62 or older," Wheatley said. "We want to make sure that seniors have a comfortable, safe place to live, and with that, the activities to keep them active and healthy."
For seniors who are not able to attend the centers in person, Wheatley said CHEER is also introducing new ways to stay connected.
"We're even starting something that we're calling kindness calls. So we're, you know, making phone calls to seniors that are either alone or maybe a spouse recently passed away or went in the hospital, and they're home, and you know, somebody just needs to check in on them," Wheatley said.
Wheatley said the organization is also planning ways to mark the 55th anniversary and is highlighting the need for volunteers.
"We're going to have different dinner events and stuff coming up, and there are also always opportunities for volunteers, whether it's helping out in the centers or helping deliver homebound meals. That's going to be an emphasis on that because the more seniors that are coming to Sussex, the more help we need, and we really need our volunteers to help us out," she said.
"It's very important to make connections. Social isolation can really bring down your health. So, we try to encourage people to come into the centers [and] participate in the activities," Wheatley noted.
At the Milton CHEER Center, Director Ashlyn Elliott said she has a passion for working with the elderly community.
"I love being able to plan different activities for them. So that way, they are exercising their brain and just bettering their health," Elliott said.
Ricky Pitts, dietary manager at the Milton CHEER Center, said meals are provided not only to members who attend in person but also to those who remain at home and receive food deliveries.
"It brings joy to me and my staff that know that we do all of that for them five days a week," Pitts said.
For some members, the center also provides a space to socialize. Marie Phair, who has been a CHEER member for two years, said attending the center has become an important part of her day.
"It fills my day up, and I really enjoy coming here," Phair said.
As CHEER marks the milestone anniversary, the organization continues its mission of serving seniors throughout Sussex County.