Greetings my friends. What a day in history it was Monday as we sat at the center and talked about the eclipse and memories of yesteryears.
A special thanks to Leisa Henderson for the presentation she gave at the Garland Senior Center: “Positive Approach to Dementia”. Lesia is a well-trained Teepa Snow presenter. She is available to local churches, organizations and law enforcement groups for presentations. Just give her a call at 910-592-4653. Lesia gives credit to God, her job and Teepa Snow, as well as her own passion for people with this disease.
This week I want to focus on my job as the Garland Senior Center director. I am very passionate about the job and what it has to offer. Last fiscal year we touched over 1,287 unduplicated participants which included anything from congregate meals, activities, nursing agencies partnering with local groups to our older Americans celebration to the Senior Games, as well as our home-delivered meals program. We have so much to offer!
However, one element is lacking and that is volunteers. Volunteers are vital to our home-delivered meals program. Without volunteers and partnerships the program would not exist. We provide the service, but volunteers are needed to deliver. We appreciate our volunteers; they play a vital role in delivering these meals to our frail seniors. I
f you, your church group or your civic organization are interested in volunteering, please contact Linda Armwood. She is the Elderly Nutrition Program manager at the Department of Aging, 910-592-4653, and, of course, you can always call me at 910-596-8246. If you can deliver one day a week or one day a month or more it would be much appreciated. It is a ministry and it is rewarding. Sometimes your face may be the only face thatan elderly person may see that day. I’m not trying to paint a pity party; I am just being real!
Upcoming events: each day is an adventure at the center. We are making sundresses for the “Haiti Project” and we need volunteers and material for this project. These dresses will be sent to Haiti. We will start our fall computer classes on Sept. 5. We will meet Tuesday and Thursday, 9-11:30 a.m. You must register by 9 a.m. on Sept. 5.
Social Security representative Brenda Brown will be at the center Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 10:30 a.m. and she will be at Butler Court Thursday, Sept. 21 at 10:30 a. m. She will help you any way she can, and trust me she knows her stuff!
Friendship is a wonderful thing — keep it strong and bond together. The Bible teaches us to let the strong bear the infirmities of the weak. Let it show in the home, work place, church,and on the streets and wherever we go. Together we stand, divided we fall. Stay connected to “The Shade Tree” of life. Share, Love, Laugh and share the precious memories. Someone will enjoy those memories, I promise.
Until next time, just be nice when you go out, come back in and count how many people you have been kind to. Join us as we rock on the front porch of the Garland Senior Center. Share, laugh, dip stuff and wave when folks pass. Sometimes we sing and share the Gospel. It’s good to grow older with friends. We are no older that we can remember. Listening to the chimes from Garland Baptist Church brings a calmness to us all. Be blessed.