Submitted by the Orcas Senior Center.
Orcas Senior Center is under new management! A new nonprofit, Friends of Orcas Senior Center, took over operations on Jan. 1. Along with the transition, the new nonprofit is acquiring the trade name “Orcas Senior Center.” We hope that this simple change will help bring clarity to the role of the nonprofit, and more clearly distinguish it from other entities that also offer services to seniors and adults with disabilities.
In order to ensure uninterrupted services during this transition, the OSC nonprofit has entered into a new agreement with the Whatcom Council on Aging, allowing us to continue the lunch program. We will also continue our collaboration with the San Juan County government’s Senior Services Department with respect to building co-ownership and co-management, and we work closely with the County for referrals of services.
We are very pleased to continue with all our partnerships: With the Lions Club to provide mobility equipment, with SHIBA (Medicare and Medicaid consulting), with Footcare With a Heart, and with our audiology and speech pathology professionals. Our health and wellness classes; art and textile classes; book, card and stamp clubs; Afternoon Tea and other regular activities have continued, uninterrupted, as have Home Maintenance and Repair pilot program and Companion Services (Hearts and Hands and Buddy Check-In). Most of our classes and activities are open to everyone, not only to seniors and adults with disabilities.
We are again offering field trips and are excited to be starting up Meetings of the Minds again in February with Shona Aitken from Wolf Hollow on February 15. We’ll be hosting another silent auction soon, and we’ve started planning for Grannie’s Attic 2.0 to take place in April. Perhaps most exciting of all, we will be hosting the Orcas Island Cider and Mead Festival on July 15. Find announcements for these and many other events this coming year on our website at www.orcasseniors.org and on Facebook.
Of course, none of this could happen without the dedicated assistance of volunteers, so if you think you might be interested in helping the Orcas Senior Center non-profit with any of these activities or events, please contact Programs and Activities Manager, Steven Ziegler, at 206-413-6156.
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Grannie’s Attic 2.0 @ Orcas Senior Center – Saturday, April 29
Orcas Senior Center is pleased to announce Grannie’s Attic 2.0 to be held on Saturday, April 29. You may be wondering, “Why 2.0?” Because, unlike the previous Grannie’s Attic, we will not be accepting donations of items for sale. Instead, we will be renting tables for anyone to sell their household or vintage items, tools, clothing, collectibles, or anything else. Table rentals are first come first serve, and will rent for $20 in most locations, or $30 per table each for the nine tables in the prime locations near the entrance. Each seller may rent up to two six-foot tables. To help cover the costs of hosting the event, shoppers will be invited to donate $5 at the door. We also need volunteers to help set up the day before, tasks on day of, and clean up afterwards. Is this you? To rent a table or volunteer to help, please contact Programs and Activities Manager, Steven Ziegler, at 206-413-6156 or steven@orcasseniors.org.
