Beauty Beneath the Rubble: Amidst Mall Makeover, Senior Citizens Activities Network, a Thirty-Six-Year-Old Nonprofit Remains and Thrives

Despite demolition at the Monmouth Mall, Senior Citizens Activities Network (SCANNJ.ORG) will remain at its current location in the basement level, where it has been since its 1988 inception. The non-profit was founded in 1988, with a mission to combat social isolation among seniors by providing them with free and low-cost programs classes and workshops.

Beneath the demolition crews, crumbling buildings, piles of rubble and empty husk of an outdated Mall, the non-profit occupies 3800 feet of classroom space offering their programs in the areas of fitness, languages, the arts, health and technology to their nearly 500 senior members who live in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Even though Monmouth Mall is in the early and ugly stages of its ultimate metamorphosis to Monmouth Square, the nonprofit agency carries on with no interruption of its services. Additionally, several newspaper articles and social media posts falsely reported that SCAN was set to close their doors for good like the retail stores above them.

“It’s been business as usual for us,” said Mike Ciavolino, Executive Director at SCAN. “We’re offering nearly 40 different classes this Fall semester, and just about every class is sold out including our Lunch & Learn events. The Kushner Management team has been great to us and have assured us that we will continue to operate here during the renovation period. We aren’t going anywhere and if you’re 55 and older, you should come down and check us out.”

Tom Duffy, President & CEO of Jersey Shore Financial Advisors, speaks to a sold-out audience at a SCAN 2024 Lunch & Learn Event

Students of SCAN’s Art Class pose in front of their recent mask creation. SCAN offers over 40 different classes each semester for people 55 and older.