COMMUNITY PROFILE: Taggy Hall wants to win $25K for Precinct2gether

MRS. ERONIA “TAGGY” HALL
MRS. ERONIA “TAGGY” HALL
MRS. ERONIA “TAGGY” HALL

GALENA PARK – Taggy Hall wants your vote, and she is not afraid to ask for it, at community meetings and chamber events. She is the president of the Galena Manor Civic Club, which meets monthly at the Churchill Community Center on Hunter Street in Galena Manor.

But she is also a community activist, and she sees an opportunity to help the Precinct 2 organization for seniors, Precinct2gether.

She is competing with four other women, in a contest to get the most votes and win a prize of $25,000 from TexanPlus, a local Medicare Advantage health plan organization that has teamed with the Astros baseball club to sponsor this competition. Whichever of the five women gets the most votes between now and Sept. 12 will win the prize, and her designated charity will get the money.

Taggy wants you to vote at www.texanpluschampions.com/vote.html. You can vote once every day until the deadline.

Eronia “Taggy” Hall considers teaching her life’s passion. So after retiring from the Houston Independent School District after 34 years of service, there was perhaps no better way to spend her golden years than teaching seniors. And that’s precisely what she did.

Taggy, the embodiment of the modern active senior citizen is energetic, optimistic and driven, and she’s teaching others around her the importance of staying active and involved in their communities. All while following her vision to build a better community in Galena Park and beyond.

Retired in 1994, Taggy immediately started seeing things within her community that needed to be done, and she got involved in them to ensure they got done. For the past 20 years, she’s continued that approach and has been leading the way on public improvement projects around Galena Park as well as leading aerobics classes for seniors, planning senior activities such as monthly luncheons, trips and social gatherings.

“As people age, they have less opportunities to interact with others, so this keeps people engaged and active,” Taggy said. “A lot of these seniors look forward to going to these centers and participating in the activities. They do arts, crafts, stay active, and they find friendship. They’ve worked hard providing for their families, and now they deserve to have fun.”

Taggy teaches an aerobics class designed for people above the age of 50, but most of the attendees are in their 80s, and very active. The class meets four times a week and Taggy attends and leads every one – which adds up to more than 250 hours volunteered, just with the aerobics class. In addition to her work with the aerobics class, she also keeps the group active with the Senior Olympics and even competitive line dancing.

According to the National Center on Aging, older adults who participate in senior center programs can improve overall well-being, and Taggy is certainly doing that. She works with organizations like the Galena Manor Civic Club, and with Harris County’s second precinct community outreach program, Precinct2gether, which offers opportunities to everyone in the area, of all ages.

Taggy’s philanthropic work doesn’t just impact seniors, but touches the community’s youth as well. In her eyes, creating more interaction between children and seniors in Galena Park creates a stronger community.

“Our youth can learn a lot from the seniors. They go to seniors for advice when they need it,” said Taggy. “And the youth are very helpful to our seniors as well, doing little things around the house for them. It’s a good combination.”

Even at 76, Taggy shows no signs of slowing down. She’s working with Precinct2gether to get more equipment for the local community center, which would include fitness equipment for the seniors, and fund other programming that creates senior fellowship and a tight-knit community. Her inspiration is undoubtedly her mother, who worked with children in the community until her passing.

“I emulate my mother. I saw her do these things, as well as others within the community,” she said. “And I thought I’d like to lead a life filled with service one day if I had a chance. And I have that chance now.”