SENIOR MOMENTS
brought to you by 
Meals on Wheels and
 Senior Outreach
Services 

        925-937-8311            
         
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome New Volunteers
Words We Live By
Upcoming Events
Media
AmazonSmile
Leave A Legacy
Available Resources
Awards and Recognition
Career Opportunity
Election Clerk Jobs
Coordinated Care
Making A Difference
Care Management
Health and Wellness
Healthy Bites
About Town
WELCOME NEW VOLUNTEERS
 
Meals on Wheels
 
Susan Anderson
Lisa Angus
Lani Bari
Janet Branigan
Tamara Cundy
Loretta Filograsso
Mike Filograsso
Tina Jacobsen
 Cathy Mauger
 Nancy Mc Cafferty
 Maria Romo
          
Friendly Visitors
 
Lani Bari
Karen Colson
Lori Curran
Miranda Epifania
Francine Pirogovksy
Jackie Steskal
  
  C. C. Cafés
 
Mary Ellen Cassidy
Sharon Chesney 
 
WORDS WE
LIVE BY 

Hot Meals for the Soul

"With stomach that wails like a hungry birdling, mouth agape, I wait for nourishing morsel.

Volunteers Frank, Bill, Len and Bud go their rounds before the clock strikes 12 like fairytale Cinder-fellas.

Bud delivers the meal, with the parting shot, 'see you kiddo' making wrinkles vanish, go.

Elsie goes her rounds, too.  She more than brings physical nourishment, laces this with compliments.

'I saw my lunch lumbering up the garden,' I quip. 'Oh, yes, I have but one speed,' she speedily counters with wit.

Barbara calls in a worrying voice, 'could not deliver to you, call if you are all right,
thank you very much.'
 
Inez, the proverbial mother hen, visits her culinary charges.  Goes up, down the stairs on proper nutrition she advises.
 
Hot meals manager, Dee, oversees wheels run right.  'Have an extra meal, like to have it?' she asks concernedly.
 
Angels of MOWSOS -- there for you when your wheel of fortune is down or broken.
 
They nourish and nurture both body and soul."
 
Marietta
MOWSOS Client
 UPCOMING EVENTS

Making Strides of Walnut Creek
 
  • Saturday, June 18th
  • 11:00am
  • 1750 Heather Drive,
  • Walnut Creek

    •
    Event details here.
    ~~~
    Assemblymember Tony Thurmond and the Contractors State License Board invite you to attend a
    FREE
    Senior Scam Stopper Seminar
    Monday, June 20th
    9:00am - 12:00pm
    San Pablo Maple Hall
    13831 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo
    RSVP Today!
    Event details here.

    Media
        
    March for Meals 2016

    Senior Rally Day 2016

    AmazonSmile
     
     
     
    When completing your shopping on Amazon, use Amazon Smile and pick Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services as your charity of choice.  Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to our organization.
      
    Make your purchases count, visit smile.amazon.com! 
    Bequests
     
    As a 501(c)3, we are eligible to receive bequests. 

    Please contact Erica Marcus at emarcus@mowsos.org
     or 925-937-8315.  
    Available Resources

    Contra Costa County Information & Assistance

     

    Contra Costa Crisis Center
    Awards and Recognition

    #WalnutCreekWorks Commendation from

    Mayor Haskew

     

     Clayton Valley Women's Club

    Celebration of Living Award 2016

      The Rotary Club of the Delta, Antioch

    Certification of Appreciation

    awarded to Elaine Clark

    "In honor of Your Contributions and Presentation." 





    MOWSOS Career Opportunities
     
    Join the MOWSOS team as our new
    Email your cover letter and resume to eclark@mowsos.org.
    or
     
    Email your cover letter and resume to

    No phone calls please.
    Job Openings for Seasonal Election Clerks
     
    The Contra Costa County Elections Division has immediate openings for civic minded, seasonal clerks to work in various capacities during this exciting presidential election season.
    Click here for more information.
    Issue 4, Volume 6
    June 2016
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    Last Friday night I called my 84-year-young friend, Helga, who just moved to Gardnerville, Nevada after the board and care facility she lived in shut its doors.  Helga was forced to move from Heritage House - a place she called home for six years and where her late husband, Jimmy lived his final days. She is now in a beautiful new senior living facility, close to her daughter. 
     
    Shortly after arriving in her new home, Helga fell and broke her arm.  My husband and I drove up to see her on Saturday.  Helga was back in her apartment but scared.  She had grab bars, a wheel chair, walker, shower bench - everything I would have prescribed.  Unfortunately, she also had "beautiful" throw rugs in the bathroom that had caught the wheels of her walker at 4:00am when her eye sight and balance were fuzzy.
     
    I was immediately reminded that we need to be vigilant, thoughtful, understanding,  supportive and grateful. 
     
    To everyone who has recently donated to our Fall Prevention program, thank you. Your support will prevent a senior from falling.  $600 covers the cost to make a home fall safe.  Our waiting list is now down from 61 to 50 people because of your support.
     

    On behalf of myself and all of the "Helgas" in Contra Costa, thank you.
     
    Sincerely,
     
     
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    In Loving Memory

    Lois Adair

    A Legacy of Providing Birthday Joy!

       
     
     Birthday Ladies from left to right:  Lois Adair, Mimi Howard, and Roberta Whitman.
    One of the great joys of working at MOWSOS is meeting great people.  Lois Adair was one of those generous souls.  Until her passing this month, Lois was a "Birthday Lady."  The Birthday Ladies meet monthly to create lovely birthday bags filled with goodies for every Meals on Wheels client.  Birthday bags are delivered by meal volunteers on the client's birthday, along with their meal.
      
    Lois loved the work she and the other Ladies did together.  A member of the Birthday Ladies group, Lois could be found counting lip gloss, stuffing bags, or organizing supplies.  Lois cared about people less fortunate, those who were unable to drive or cook for themselves  or those without a support network.  While we miss her presence, Lois's spirit lives on.   
     
    Birthday Ladies from left to right:  Mimi Howard, Lois Adair, Clara King, Rita Smiley, Michelle Roma, Sandy Heller, and Carole Koo.
    Making A Difference

     

    Seniors Count

     

    On Wednesday, May 11th, more than 300 advocates joined forces by rallying at the State Capitol to urge lawmakers to truly make California the Golden State for Californians in their "golden years."

     

    Senior Rally Day is an opportunity for California's senior community to advocate and bring awareness to the issues of senior poverty, healthcare and family care-giving.  Assembly Member Cheryl Brown reminded the standing room only crowd that "over 1000 people turn 65 each day in California, a trend that will continue for the next 13 years." 

     

    College Park High School students, Luca Giannini and Dare Miller, joined local advocates on a capacity-filled bus to Sacramento. "It was an experience I won't forget," says Giannini, a videography student in his sophomore year. 

     

    College Park High School videography students nab interview with Assembly Member, Cheryl Brown.

    Pictured from left to right:  Assembly Member, Cheryl Brown; CPHS Sophomore, Luca Giannini; CPHS Sophomore, Dare Miller.

     

    MOWSOS staff, including Alayne Balke, Fall Prevention Manager; Leigh Shughrou, Public Affairs Specialist; Nelly Salgado, Client Intake/Receptionist; and Janett Tong, Fall Prevention Assistant, advocated with legislators inside the Capitol Building and were able to spend time with Chelsea Lee, Legislative Aide to Senator Carol Liu.  "I'm a senior myself," says Salgado, "so it was an important and 

    eye-opening experience for me." 

     

    View a video clip of the rally and interview with Lee below (under Media). 

     

    For information on the Senior Rally Day 2017, contact Alayne Balke at abalke@mowsos.org or 925-937-8311 x301.

     Care Management

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      Lotería - Mexican Bingo 
    at the Concord Senior Center
     
    The Care Management Team in partnership with the Concord Senior Center hosts Lotería (Mexican Bingo) on the last Thursday of the month from 10:00am -1:00pm. 

    Lotería  is a memory-enhancement, bilingual activity, where seniors are welcome not only to socialize and participate in the game, but to also enjoy refreshments and a light breakfast hosted by MOWSOS and the Concord Senior Center.
     
    Everyone is welcome!    
                     
             
    For more information contact Rosa Loya at rloya@mowsos.org or 925-239-2486.
     Health and Wellness

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    Fruit and Veggie Fest 2016

     

    Contra Costa Health Services and Mi Pueblo Food Center celebrated the annual Fruit and Veggie Fest in May.

     

    The event was held at the Mi Pueblo Food Center in Pittsburg.  Cynthia Black, MOWSOS Health and Wellness Division Manager, was on hand to provide information about MOWSOS's life-saving services for Contra Costa seniors. 

       

    For nutrition tips, contact the Health and Wellness Division Manager, Cynthia Black, at cblack@mowsos.org or
    925-239-2484.
     Healthy Bites

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    Summer Reads Make Us Feel Fine

     Reading isn't only fun, it's good for you. And reading for pleasure is something that not enough people take the time to enjoy.  In fact, a HuffPost poll found that of 1,000 participants, 28 percent of those surveyed hadn't read a book in over a year.
     
    Studies show the benefits of reading include:
    • Improved Social Skills
    • Protection Against Alzheimer's
    • Reducing Depression
    • Combating Stress
    • Staving Off Mental Decline
    It's not too late to get back into reading. The best part about reading into adulthood--you don't have to write a report or be prepared for a discussion, you can just do it for fun!
     
    For more information on healthful reading, click here.

     

    For some great summer reads, click here.        

     About Town

    Senior Rally Day.

    From left to right:  Paul Downey, Executive Director, Serving Seniors; Leigh Shughrou, MOWSOS Public Affairs Specialist; Janett Tong, MOWSOS Fall Prevention Assistant; Nelly Salgado, MOWSOS Client Intake/Receptionist.

    Fall Prevention Coalition Meeting.

    From left to right:  Lori Bastian, The Chateaus of Pleasant Hill; Randy Ferrill, Grace Heathcare; Pam Campbell, Oakmont of Concord.


    Bus Trip to Senior Rally Day.

    From left to right: Dare Miller, College Park High School Videography Student; Luca Giannini, College Park High School Videography Student.

    Grant from Clayton Valley Woman's Club.

    From left to right: Connie Weimar CVWC President; Nancy Raniere, MOWSOS MOW Program Manager; Erica Marcus, MOWSOS Donor Relations Manager.


    Fall Prevention Coalition Meeting.

    From left to right:  Janett Tong, MOWSOS Fall Prevention Assistant; Lisa Bellini, MS, RD, CDE, American Heart Association.

     Thank You, Eric!

      MOWSOS Board President, John Judd (left) presents Eric Freitag with a parting gift after six years of board support.


    Hunger Action Day.

    From left to right:  Ashley McCumber, MOWSF; Elaine Clark, MOWSOS CEO; Anne Quaintance, MOWSF; Darren Dunaway.

    A Grant from West America Bank.

    From left to right:  Elaine Clark, MOWSOS CEO; Theresa Fortier, West America Bank; Shelby Lintz, West America Bank.


     
    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 x104
    lshughrou@mowsos.org

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.       

    1300 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 
    925-937-8311  mowsos.org