Prior to the pandemic, a trip to the Sheraden senior center was routine for Rose Paulin.
"About three times a week," Paulin said Monday.
Like so many businesses and services, Pittsburgh's senior centers have been closed since March 2020. Three of them, including Sheraden, reopened Monday.
Paulin and her friends were able to play cards together at the senior center for the first time in 16 months.
"We enjoy each other's company playing cards and just being friends," she said.
The Homewood and South Side Market senior centers also reopened Monday as part of the City's phased approach. Most of the remaining senior centers will open gradually through August 2.
The City has not set a date to reopen centers in Morningside and Northview Heights.
"Today is highly significant for all of these older people because they get a chance to see each other again and talk and just be together," said City program supervisor Gloria Townsend.
Townsend said the pandemic has been difficult for senior citizens. Not only did it often force them into isolation away from family and friends, but without the technology skills that could connect them to others.
She said the centers provided laptops and training on how to use them last year. They also offered grab-and-go meal distribution and did wellness check-ins.
For the people that use their center, she said nothing compares to meeting in person.
"Coming back into the center is like 'yay! We're back! We're open! I can come again,'" she said. "It's like coming home, because this definitely was their home away from home."
The City will slowly bring center programming back and continue to offer grab-and-go meals.
Anyone who is not vaccinated is asked to wear a mask in the centers.