It's the season of love, and as our friends at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center can tell us, love can come in many forms.

Love is a friend who understands you. Love is teaching someone something new. Love is sharing a special moment with someone who needs companionship.

At The Salvation Army Kroc Center, this love can be witnessed first-hand through the Golden Gems, a program that meets three times weekly to get senior citizen members involved and active. With more than 100 members, the Golden Gems is one of The Salvation Army's largest programs for seniors in the Philadelphia area and affords a wealth of opportunity to those who might otherwise be forgotten.

"I have no family in this area, and I live alone. If I didn't have The Salvation Army to come to, I'd probably be sitting at home watching TV for most of my time," said Sharon, who's been a member of the group for over a year. "I've met so many new friends here that we even do things together outside of the center."

The original idea to create the Golden Gems club sparked from a Salvation Army Kroc Center fitness specialist as a method of keeping seniors more in tune with their health. Exercise is an integral part of the club, and members participate in regular health check-ups, fitness activities and wellness education.

"A lot of older Americans are intimidated by fitness," said Shavonne Murphy, fitness manager at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of Philadelphia. "What we're here to teach them is that you can get on the treadmill and just walk; you don't have to push yourself to maximum capacity in order to stay fit and well. There are ways that the gym can benefit you no matter your age."

A major benefit to hosting the club at The Salvation Army Kroc Center is that it gives seniors a sense of consistency. All of the center's fitness specialists have earned their degree in sports medicine or kinesiology, allowing them to provide health and wellness assessments to the seniors far beyond the abilities of a personal trainer. Over time, they're able to develop a rapport with the seniors who see them regularly.

Managed by Captains Dennis and Sharon Young, corps commanding officers at The Salvation Army Kroc Center, the group participates in fun enrichment programs year-round, including day trips, sewing classes, knitting and crochet, concert choir, talent and fashion shows, quarterly birthday celebrations, and much more. Next up, on February 13 from 12-3:00 p.m. the Golden Gems and The Salvation Army Kroc Center Fitness Center will co-host a My Golden Valentine event with a DJ, food, dancing, and fun for all center members.

Golden Gems member Barbara is thankful for the opportunity to learn new things from others as part of the club. "I think it's a wonderful program that incorporates devotion, which is important to me and my husband. I've learned so much since I started with the club from new friends, and I was able to teach them things as well."

"We're like a family and everyone gets along, even when you're going through things in your personal life," Sharon said. "There's a lot of love here."

To learn more about the Golden Gems program at The Salvation Army Kroc Center and their upcoming My Golden Valentine event, please call 215-717-1200.