Community Connection Newsletter | June 2020 | News & Announcements
Senior Wisdom: Surviving Life's Difficulties
92 year-old Samaritas Senior Living resident recalls depression era challenges

It's no surprise that the outcome of the Coronavirus Pandemic is forcing plenty of people to re-think finances and ways to keep their families together.
 
This month we asked beloved Samaritas Senior Living resident Liz Ilku her advice on what families suffering from the pandemic can do to save money, and their sanity, during these challenging times. 
 
Check out the video on the right to hear what she had to say.
"For the Zen of It" - Self Compassion 101  
June 11 at 3 p.m.
Relieving anxiety through mindfulness
Mindfulness is on the rise, and more than just a fad it's a tool that can help you retrain your brain and transform your life.

Join Bri from Compassionately Bri to learn the basics of self-compassion. She will guide you as you delve into a defining negative statement in your life, convert that negative statement into a self-kind one, and provide you with tangible tools to start your own self-compassion journey today. At the end of this workshop, you'll be given 15 pages of free journal prompts and a 6-minute self-compassion break audio meditation.
Summer Kickoff Drive-up Picnic
June from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Join us for a *drive-up* summer kickoff party.
Drive around our campus, grab a picnic meal to eat in your car, and take a tour of the Cottages, all while following social distancing guidelines.
This event is free and open to the public, to RSVP
call 616-284-5716 or email dgill@samaritas.org by Friday, June 12.
If you would like to tour a Cottage, you must sign up for a time slot when you
RSVP. We are only allowing one group in the Cottage at a time.
"Get to the Core of It" – Mat Pilates
June 23 at 10 a.m.
This virtual Pilates mat class is an intro to experience the benefits that the Pilates Method has to offer, while being attentive to the body's changing needs. This class will focus on creating a full body experience to help improve your posture and balance, build strength and stamina, decompress your joints and spinal column as well as participate in some restorative stretching.
Samaritas Youth Art Show on June 15
This virtual event is honor of World Refugee Awareness Week
The Samaritas Youth Art Show titled “Let the Love Shine/ Deja el Amor Brillar” will be launched at noon on Tues., June 15 online at Samaritas.org/Youth-Art- Show .
 
It will include paintings and mixed media art pieces created by students in Samaritas’ Foster Care Refugee Youth program.
 
Art lovers can also choose their favorite piece and have its image printed on an item such as a tote bag for a fee.
 
The proceeds will benefit the Samaritas Youth Refugee program and help fund enrichment programs managed by the Samaritas Refugee Youth Advocacy Board members. 
See what else is going on at Samaritas this month!
Coronavirus Pandemic Update
How you can keep Samaritas programs running 
 
Since the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic, we’re all adjusting our activities to meet the standards of social distancing and stay-at-home recommendations. At Samaritas, these adjustments include an increased focus on the best care possible for clients vulnerable to COVID-19. These include at-risk seniors, intellectually disabled adults, and families and teens living in shelters.
 
To support our clients, many of our employees are working in extraordinary circumstances to keep them safe. We expect the need for food security, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), programs and services to increase in the upcoming months. To that end, we need your help to continue offering the quality services our clients need and deserve. .
 
Visit samaritas.org/donate to see what’s needed for these programs:
  • Samaritas COVID-19 Response Fund – Monetary donations will help us get personal protective equipment, wage increases for our frontline workers and extra food for our shelters.
  • Samaritas Monthly Giving Club – For as little as $5 a month, donors can provide a steady funding source throughout the year.
 
  • COVID Care Kits – Samaritas offers packages of critical items for the vulnerable people we serve. We need cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, facial tissue, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and non-perishable food and water for these kits. Other items like children’s books, toys, diapers and baby formula will help keep families whole during financial hardship.
  • New Americans Pantry – Samaritas has an Amazon Wish List to help stock the pantries of refugees and their families. Anything donated from Amazon will be distributed to these families in need. Visit bit.ly/NewAmericansWishlist to see the list.
 
  • Foster Care Family Support – Samaritas also has an Amazon Wish List to help foster parents support the children in their care. Food and household items are needed and will be distributed to these families. Visit bit.ly/FosterFamilyWishlist to see the list.  
Samaritas offers retirement living for seniors with five communities throughout Michigan. Whether you want independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, memory support or rehabilitation therapy, you’ll find a home that feels right.

 Contact us at seniors@samaritas.org to s chedule a tour, learn about promotions and more.

2000 32nd St. SE | Grand Rapids, MI 49508 | S amaritas.org/Senior-Living | (833) 505-CARE (2273)