MISSION: To create opportunities that allow Douglas County residents 60 years and older to remain independent and active in their homes and communities.
March 2014
Volume 41 No. 3
INSIDE 2014 AARP Tax-Aide Schedule������������������������ PG 2 Calendar of Events �������������������������� PG 3 Featured March Activities �������������� PG 8 Legalese ������������������������������������������ PG 14
LAPA SENIOR RESOURCE FAIR MARCH 12 Plan now to attend the 9th Annual Lawrence Area Partners in Aging Senior Resource Fair on Wednesday, March 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hy-Vee on Clinton Parkway. The Senior Resource Fair is designed to introduce seniors and their families and caregivers to the members of LAPA and acquaint them with the services that these businesses provide to the seniors in the community. There will be door prizes and give-aways!
ATTENTION ALL SENIORS! In case of bad weather please listen to KLWN 1320 AM radio for closing of senior center, meals and activities. Information will also be available on TV station KMBC Channel 9 and cable Channel 6.
VISIT US AT WWW.DGCOSENIORSERVICES.ORG
CELEBRATE NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
BY “ROUNDING UP” FOR SENIOR MEALS AT THE MERC By Ray Buckingham, Senior Meals Program Manager The DCSS Senior Meals Program is teaming up with The Community Mercantile in Lawrence for the month of March to promote and raise valuable funds for the meals program. Customers of The Merc will be given the opportunity to donate directly to the Senior Meals Program by rounding up their purchase amounts at check-out to the next dollar, dropping change in change jars and donating their bag refund of 5 cents directly to Senior Meals. The Senior Meals Program is an approved nutrition provider for seniors and has been serving wellbalanced, nutritious meals to seniors all over Douglas County for more than 30 years. Two congregate sites in Lawrence (Lawrence Senior Center and Babcock Place), one in Eudora and one in Baldwin City serve as dining centers for individuals 60 and over to enjoy a lunch meal. Each site also offers the “Grab-N-Go” pick-up lunch program and home delivered meals to home-bound senior participants. All together, the Senior Meals Program serves approximately 265 meals daily, Monday through Friday.
Our staff and volunteers are not only dedicated to ensuring our program participants receive a meal to nourish their bodies, but we also want them to know they have someone that cares about them and is looking out for their well-being. The Senior Meals Program motto is, “We are more than a meal.” Although the program receives funding from various local, state and national funding sources, these revenue streams do not cover the entire cost of operating the program. While our participants are asked to contribute a suggested donation of $2.75 per meal, many seniors on fixed incomes simply cannot donate. Therefore, fund-raising campaigns make a significant impact on our ability to continue to offer meals to eligible participants without having a waiting list for the many seniors that depend upon the service. The Senior Meals Program is grateful to The Community Mercantile for partnering with us to further our mission of helping seniors get connected, stay connected, and enjoy an active and healthy life. Pictured below (L to R): Charlene Haines, DCSS employee; Chuck Benedict, participant; and Jim Frances, volunteer. (Photos by DCSS Executive Director Kristin Scheurer)