WELCOME NEW VOLUNTEERS
Meals on Wheels
Lynn Binsacca Robert Binsacca Albert Borden Chantelle Chang Victoria Cless Debbie Cummins Scott Hamilton Melissa Hillberg Gerry Long Shirley McElhattan Steve Pardieck Vanity Vale-Ayala
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Friendly Visitors
Vicky Conerly Jessica Del Castillo Diane Stephens Siobhan Stuart
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WORDS WE
LIVE BY
"Just a note of gratitude for allowing me to attend the caregiver workshop. It was very enlightening and, as you know, there's always more to learn.
It was a pleasure meeting you Rhonda, and thanks again!"
Dolores English, Caregiver Workshop Attendee
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"Thank you for the accolade and the video...inspiring...you got me smiling and believing that I am truly a superstar. More to explore in the intoxicating world
of social service. And, more power to you and your team."
Bay Point C.C. Café Manager, Evelyn Baclig, on her appearance in the MOWSOS agency video.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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10th Annual
Living Better After 50
Workshop
Saturday, April 18th
8:45am - 3:15pm
Pittsburg Adult Education Center
Click here for details and registration information
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"Be Our Guest"
at the
Bay Point C.C. Café
for first-time diners, 60+ years of age
Wednesday, April 22nd
11:00am
Click here for flyer
Victims Rights Resource Fair
Thursday, April 23
Hosted by the District Attorney's Victim Witness Project and the Family Justice Center
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CarFit Event
Saturday, May 2
10:00am - 1:00pm
Church of Latter Day Saints
555 Boyd Road
Pleasant Hill
CarFit is an educational program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles "fit" them.
Click here to register
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Senior Rally Day
"Make Seniors a Priority in 2015 and Beyond--
Reinvest in the Older Californians Act"
Wednesday, May 6th,
9:00am - 3:00pm
West lawn of the capitol
Click here for flyer
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Laugh, Love
& Learn
Senior Live Well Forum
Friday, May 8th
10:00am - 2:00pm
Pleasant Hill Senior Center
233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill
Click here for details
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MOWSOS Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
Thursday, June 18th
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Heather Farm,
Walnut Creek
Invitation
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Available Resources
Taxes Done Right!
EarnIt, KeepIt, $aveIt!
Free tax service you can trust.
Click here for details and for Contra Costa locations.

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Elder Mediation
Conflict Resolution Programs
lark@chd-prevention.org
925-349-7344
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HICAP
Free Medicare Counseling
www.cchicap.org
*Contra Costa County
925-602-4163 or 800-510-2020
*Outside Contra Costa County
925-229-8434
*FAX: 925-677-3007
*TDD: 925-602-4198
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Adult Day Services Centers Network of Contra Costa
www.adultdaycc.org
925-682-1000
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Issue 3, Volume 4
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April 2015
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Spring is in the air and it is time to take action! 20% of us will make up the senior population in Contra Costa within the next few years. Be part of the solution - stand up for senior services. Attend the Senior Rally Day on May 6th. We are helping sponsor a bus to the state capitol to "Make Seniors a Priority in 2015 and Beyond - Reinvesting in the Older Californians Act." Join us if you can.
Last month, a dozen local activists spotlighted the power of home delivered meals during Community Champions Week. The event was part of a national focus on senior nutrition and "More Than A Meal" campaign.
Recognizing the need for additional assistance for low-income seniors to connect with social services, Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services recently added to our Care Management Team. Nazia Chand is our newest Case Manager. She specializes in senior health issues and connecting low income seniors with additional services.
We continue to move forward, bringing additional needed services and action. Join us in our efforts!
 
Sincerely,
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A Legacy of Good Works and a Fond Farewell
Ana Cardenas is leaving us after 18 ˝ years as a caring and dedicated member of the Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services staff. She began as an assistant to several programs and is now leaving her position as our Chief Operations Officer. Her personal journey has been equally as eventful. Ana gave birth to her second child as a staff member, went back to school to earn her undergraduate degree in Business Management and last year obtained her Master's degree in Business and Organizational Development from USF.
Ana is bright, resourceful, and a major force at MOWSOS and she has helped shape the agency into what it is today. She has been immensely successful in forming relationships and partnerships outside of MOWSOS which greatly benefited the agency. Her level of skill and creative capacity will definitely leave difficult shoes to fill.
All of the staff at MOWSOS and her colleagues outside of MOWSOS will sincerely miss her. We wish all the best in her new endeavors.
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 "Community Champions Week" A Success! The month of March marked Meals on Wheels America's "March for Meals" campaign to raise awareness of senior hunger and isolation across America. It also debuted its "More than a Meal" research study conducted by Brown University with research-backed evidence confirming what we've all known for decades: that Meals on Wheels does in fact deliver so much more than just a meal. Click here for full study.
| From left to right: Care Manager, Home Care Assistance, Katie Copsey; MOW Client; Dave Zewe; and Danville Council Member, Renee Morgan. |
MOWSOS participated during the campaign's "Community Champions Week." Dozens of community leaders throughout Contra Costa delivered meals to frail, homebound seniors alongside volunteer drivers. A very special thank you to: - Ken Carlson, Pleasant Hill Mayor
- Rich Carlston, Walnut Creek Council Member
- Nazreen Celestial, John Muir Medical Surgical Services Manager
- Katie Copsey, Home Care Assistance, Care Manager
- Tim Grayson, Concord Mayor
- Jennifer Grossi, "Inside Pleasant Hill" Anchor
- Father Richard Mangini, St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, Concord
- Debra Mason, Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) Member, Bay Point
- Will McGarvey, Executive Director, Interfaith Council of Contra Costa
- Alicia Moore, Community Relations, American Medical Response
- Renee Morgan, Town of Danville Council Member
- Kristine Sosa, Auditor, City of Martinez
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What is SNAP-Ed?
MOWSOS received a grant from Contra Costa County to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) to seniors.
The SNAP-Ed classes titled "Eat Smart, Live Strong" are based on recommendations from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a rich source of dietary health information for nutrition educators and health providers. These guidelines are based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence, and provide information and advice for choosing a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, achieving adequate exercise, and avoiding foodborne illness. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans reinforce the importance of a nutritious diet and regular physical activity in achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight for older adults.

The first session of classes was conducted at San Pablo Senior Center with twenty-one seniors in attendance. The next session of classes will be held at Ambrose Community Center beginning April 7th and running four consecutive Tuesdays.
To learn more about SNAP-Ed, please click here or contact Cynthia Black, Health and Wellness Division Manager at cblack@mowsos.org or 925-937-8311.
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Home Modifications May Decrease Depressive Symptoms
MOWSOS' Fall Prevention Service has been making home modifications and fall prevention interventions since 2008. We have witnessed first-hand how these sometimes small enhancements can make big improvements for the health and well-being of our clients.
Now, preliminary findings from a study conducted by The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing show that 80 percent of the elder participants in their study saw daily life and overall health improvement after inexpensive home modifications and interventions.
"We find that working with older adults on their own goals while making small changes to the home environment is powerful medicine," says Sarah Szanton, PhD, ANP, FAAN. In fact, the study also reveals a decrease in depressive symptoms similar to that of an anti-depressant medicine.
For more information on the findings, please click here or contact Alayne Balke at abalke@mowsos.org or 925-937-8311.
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A Decade of Service
Teresita arrived in the United States from the Philippines in 1967 and has never looked back.
"I visit the Philippines often, but I enjoy my
home and family life in Pittsburg very much,"
says Teresita.
Teresita began working at the C.C. Café 10 years ago as a way to give back to the community she had grown to love. "I've worked prepping food, rolling napkins around utensils, making flower arrangements, and clean-up," she says. Her new role is the daily front desk reception as registration clerk (see picture at right).
Teresita is one of the many familiar and friendly faces at the Bay Point C.C. Café. "I enjoy the people here so much and I get a lot of personal satisfaction from helping older adults. They're like a family to me and I love all the hugs and smiles I receive every day. It is work I enjoy," she says.
For more information, please contact Francisca Delgado at fdelgado@mowsos.org or 925-937-8311.
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Fresh Ideas For Spring Salads
Spring is officially here and brings with it an abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
From Health.com -- snap out of your greens routine and try these surprising and ultra-healthy combos.
Check out the recipes. They look fantastic!
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From left to right: Pleasant Hill Mayor, Ken Carlson; MOWSOS volunteer driver, Bob Berggren;
"Inside Pleasant Hill" Anchor, Jennifer Grossi.
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From left to right: Bay Point MAC Member, Debra Mason; Executive Director, Interfaith Council of Contra Costa, Will McGarvey; MOWSOS volunteer drivers Ida and Tom Thomason.
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| From left to right: Care Manager, Home Care Assistance, Katie Copsey; MOWSOS client, Esperanza Peckham; Danville Council Member, Renee Morgan; MOWSOS volunteer driver, Dave Mowry. |
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| From left to right: AMR Employee, Robert Gonzales; Concord Mayor, Tim Grayson; Community Outreach Coordinator, AMR, Alicia Moore. |
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MOWSOS client, Jane Anderson with Father Richard Mangini, St. Bonaventure Catholic Church.
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| From left to right: Father Richard Mangini, St. Bonaventure Catholic Church; MOWSOS clients Hilda and Alexander Montesclaros; MOWSOS volunteer driver, Dave McMurdo. |
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If you have suggestions for our newsletter or would like to contribute a quote, photo, or story, please contact: Leigh Shughrou Public Affairs Specialist
Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services 925-937-8311 x133 lshughrou@mowsos.org
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
1300 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925-937-8311 mowsos.org |
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