HAYDEN — The bingo machine at the Hayden Senior Center is under wraps, at least until Thursday when Storma Edelbrock and her volunteers will remove the cover, fire it up and give it a test run to make sure it’s working properly before the games begin.

Thursday is bingo day at the center and it can, at times, get crammed, because space in this all-purpose facility, 1,800 square feet of couches, carpet, cupboards, shelves and tables that function as a game, lunch, exercise and banquet room — along with a kitchen and office space — is a valuable commodity.

Beginning this year however, thanks to the City of Hayden, which donates money to keep the center operational, and its sponsors, donors, and patrons, the center will expand into an adjacent storefront, more than doubling its space and capacity.

It’s been a long time coming.

When the work is completed, which could be by the end of this summer, the bingo machine will be moved into the neighboring space that will be dedicated as a game, entertainment and exercise hall.

“We’ll knock out a pass way,” Edelbrock said. “And we’ll add back door access.”

If it’s not already uptown, the Hayden center, which collects an enrollment of 160 or more seniors from throughout the northern reaches of the greater-Coeur d’Alene area, will have an uptown feel once construction is completed.

“This side will be remodeled,” said Lisa Martin, the center’s chief financial officer. “We will pull up the carpet and add linoleum, partial walls and storage space.”

The result will be a sleek, pragmatic restoration.

“Right now, we’re a little dated,” Martin said.

The center opened in 2003 in the mall on the 9400 block of N. Government Way and it’s been here ever since. Its big windows let light fall in blocks across the carpeted floor adding warmth when the sun shines as traffic trundles past snow banks lining Government Way like ruff on a coat hood.

The center’s remodel, approved this week by the city’s planning department, will make the experience more pleasant for this family of seniors, volunteers and staffers like Edelbrock.

How can that be? Edelbrock, asked. Right? The atmosphere at the center is already intoxicating.

“It’s a very warm, family-like place,” she said. “It feels good to be here.”

And there is always something going on.

“We’re very active,” she said.

Pinochle, dominoes and cribbage happen Wednesday. Fit and Fall exercise is Monday and Thursday, yoga is Monday. Crafting and meditation are also part of the weekly calendar. Tuesday afternoon, the lunch tables are exchanged for card tables and it’s party bridge time.

“We’re amazing. We’re like a pit crew here,” Edelbrock said.

The center provided more than 2,000 meals last year, up from 1,832 a year earlier, and an additional meal may be added when the expansion is completed. Transportation services increased 64 percent from 2017, providing 422 rides last year.

And even though the bingo machine needs constant care, the steady rumble of its ball basket, compressed air and glowing bingo board offers additional rewards.

“We have cash payouts,” she said.

Which amount to 62 percent of the take.

“We treat it like gold,” Edelbrock said. “We coddle that thing.”