Peninsula Agency on Aging wishes you a memorable new year, one that holds the hopes, the dreams, and the possibilities of making a difference in the life of an older adult in our community. We can't thank everyone enough for brightening the holidays for our seniors! There are some amazing stories to be told.
A Look Ahead for 2017

2017 in all likelihood will hold great promise and major challenges.  Health care, particularly the Affordable Care Act, will continue to undergo scrutiny with dramatic change a distinct possibility.  The Peninsula Agency on Aging (PAA) has played a significant role in demonstrating the value of home and community based services as a key element to assure positive long term health outcomes.  Without safe and affordable housing, proper nutrition and transportation to access follow up care the best clinical outcomes will be short lived. 

During 2017, PAA will remain engaged in delivering traditional services like meals on wheels, home care, and transportation while working to expand our role with health insurance plans and health care providers.  Our forty two years of service to Peninsula seniors and family caregivers places PAA in the unique position of having strong ties to the community and a thorough understanding of the needs that exist. We will devote our time and talent to leveraging additional resources to address those needs and enhancing the quality of life for older individuals on the Peninsula.  

William S. Massey, President & CEO

Peninsula Agency on Aging

Helping Keep a Senior Warm for the Winter Wrap-Up

We are beyond thankful for the graciousness of the individuals, organizations and communities that came together to help support our Keep a Senior Warm project! 

We received so many heartfelt donations of blankets, gloves, hats, scarves, clothing and cash donations that we were able to start distributing December 5th. 

With all the support, we raised over $9,500 in donations & donated items!

  • $4,000 cash donations, which will help us support 40 seniors with their utility bills during the winter
  • 345 Blankets
  • 200 Scarves, Gloves, Hats, Slippers
  • 100 Items of Clothing

We extend a special thank you to our community partners, Altmeyer Funeral Homes and Virginia Health Systems.

Giving Back is a Family Tradition
Birthdays are a special time in the Farrell family.  In lieu of birthday gifts from friends and family, Jen and Todd ask their daughters to find a way to give back and ask that friends and family help support their chosen cause.  This year, Kaylee, picked Meals on Wheels & The Peninsula Food Bank as her project.  Kaylee and her friend Eleana delivered meals with PAA on the weekend and then purchased food with her donated money for the Food Bank.
Coloring is a True Art at our Congregate Dining sites

To kick off the holidays, all (6) of our Congregate Dining sites, held a holiday coloring contest.  Over 43 entries were received. 

The best overall picture from each of our dining clubs were:  Nancy Martin (Poquoson), Jo Conese (York), Pat Markowski (Denbigh), Vera Ross (Hampton), Gladys Hyman (Clark), and Patricia Lockeman (Historic Triangle Dining Club).  Each of these seniors received a certificate of recognition and a Walmart gift card.

The overall winner was Patricia Lockeman from the Historic Triangle Dining Club.  For being selected the overall winner, Pat won for her fellow dining club colleagues a “special” lunch that will be provided in January.  Pat (pictured) received her certificate and gift card from Gerald Patesel, (PAA).  Pat was very surprised stating that she had no idea that she would win and that she just enjoyed the time that she spent working on her picture.  

Gingerbread House decorating at The Crossings

Towards the end of each season, Girls on the Run participants plan and implement a community impact project. Girls on the Run  is a life-changing, non-profit program for girls in the 3rd through 8th grade. The mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The community impact project is a key element to the program to help the girls set, work towards and achieve a goal, resulting in a strong sense of accomplishment when they see the project from beginning to end. It also gives the girls an opportunity to use the skills they have developed during the season.

This group of girls chose their community impact project to be working with the seniors of the Memory Care Unit at The Crossings, a senior living community. 

The girls helped build and decorate Gingerbread houses, played a Q&A game to learn about each other, sang and danced together and stayed for lunch with their new friends. 

Not only was this project impactful on the girls, as they learned many things from these residents, but incredibly impactful on the residents themselves. The staff commented "we haven't seen them (residents) this happy in a long time."

Ornament Tree Gifts 20 Seniors in Williamsburg

Fellow church congregants of the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalist Church (3051 Ironbound Rd, Williamsburg), chose ornaments from a Christmas tree that had information regarding the gift recipients, who are clients of Peninsula Agency on Aging:  age, gender , and a gift suggestion (which were ideas given by the recipients). In one week, over $300 was collected in gift cards along with numerous gifts for approximately 20 gift recipients. Gifts were delivered the week of Christmas by Ivonne Luchs (RN, Peninsula Agency on Aging).

The Unitarian Church is a giving community that will also be donating their Jan. 8th plate collection to Peninsula Agency on Aging.

Caregivers' Soup for the Soul Gives Thanks to Caregivers
On November 17th, The Peninsula Task Force on Aging (PenTFA) held their annual Soup for the Caregivers' Soul, a heartwarming event for family caregivers and those who support them. Along with the celebration, David Murray, PenTFA President, and Jaynee Sasso, PenTFA Vice President, presented a $1000 donation to Judy Hutchinson & Randi Chew of Peninsula Agency on Aging for their continued service and commitment to caregivers on the Peninsula.
Hampton Baptist Church Spread Wishes for PAA
Church members of Hampton Baptist Church granted Christmas wishes for 40 of PAA's clients with their Santa for a Senior Tree. Members of the congregation bought the gifts, which included items such as bed spreads, electric skillets, clothing, shoes and so much more. Each gift bag was delivered by the church, along with Susie Castle (PAA) during a catered lunch. Seniors at Nettles Drive Apartments and Stuart Gardens were among the recipients of the Santa tree.

Sharon Van-Luyn-Prater and her associates at Atlantic Bay Mortgage have continually  partnered with PAA for years, to adopt 50 PAA clients for the holidays. By adopting a senior, Atlantic Bay Mortgage purchases gifts and hand makes baskets to deliver. The baskets and gifts are hand delivered by Atlantic Bay Mortgage, friends and family.   

Atlantic Bay Mortgage Serves as Santa to Seniors