A COMMUNITY breakfast organised by Redlands stalwart Sheena Hewlett has raised more than $15,000 for the Donald Simpson Centre.
Centre manager Thomas Jithin said the money would be used to help pay for refurbishment works, which could include an extension of the community hub used by Redlands seniors.
Mr Jithin said he was overwhelmed when he found out the Donald Simpson Centre had been picked as the beneficiary of this year's breakfast, hosted on Friday.
More than 200 guests helped raise $2500 in raffle ticket sales during the breakfast, with the remainder raised through generous contributions from event sponsors.
"We were quite overwhelmed but we never thought we'd be considered a recipient because obviously there are other worthy causes," Mr Jithin said.
Mr Jithin said plans were already in progress to connect the Donald Simpson Centre to other seniors groups in the Redlands, like the Redlands University of the Third Age and Redland District Committee on the Ageing.
The centre had also begun to host concert nights every month for those interested in live entertainment. Redlands singer Lever Lever was booked in to perform on April 27, Mr Jithin said.
Redlands Community Breakfast has raised about $100,000 in total for different causes in the Redlands.
Ms Hewlett said the Donald Simpson Centre was picked as a beneficiary this year to help Redlands seniors better connect with each other to beat social isolation.
"We've done the paediatrics unit at Redland Hospital, the Cage Youth Foundation, helped the homeless through Redlands Community Centre and helped women through the Redlands Centre for Women," Ms Hewlett said.
"It is nice to do something for seniors to give something back. So many members of the Donald Simpson Centre are also volunteers...".
Springwood MP and Minister for Housing Mick de Brenni, who spoke at the event, said helping seniors to keep up active social lives was a top priority.
"Our community is slightly older than average for communities across Queensland," he said.
"As you get older, the impact of loneliness becomes more severe.
"It is recognised that ... 15 per cent (people) going into their senior years will suffer from a mental health disorder."
Redlands MP Kim Richards said the Redlands community valued the contributions of seniors.
"We all know someone who has either lived here for most of their life or who, some time ago, chose to make this wonderful place their home," she said.
"We're a community that really does value our seniors and works hard to provide networks that make life easier.
"The Donald Simpson Centre is a vital organisation in our community that connects and supports our seniors, and is such a worthy beneficiary of this year's community breakfast.
"This is the power of a community coming together to strengthen our social fabric and help and support each other, as well as those in need."
