Tri-County Office on Aging
March 2022
WELCOME!
TCOA's monthly e-news has a new look! We hope you enjoy our content. For more information on aging resources, please visit us on our website at www.tcoa.org.
We're Hiring!
Visit www.tcoa.org/employment to view jobs and apply.
Save the Date for Golf
Meals on Wheels Charity Golf Outing: Thursday, June 16 at Forest Akers West at 9:00 AM. Registration and sponsorships are available now.
March Forth Concert Honoring Health Care Workers
Healthcare workers providing direct care throughout the pandemic are invited to a free concert at the Wharton Center on 3/24/22.
Holiday Closure
All TCOA offices will be closed on Good Friday, April 15.
Senior Nutrition Programs Turn 50!
Since 1972, the national Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults across the country. Funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA) local senior nutrition programs, including TCOA's Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining Sites, serve as hubs for older adults to access nutritious meals and other vital services that strengthen social connections and promote health and wellbeing.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has chosen "Celebrate. Innovate. Educate." as the theme for the Senior Nutrition Program's 50th anniversary. With this theme, we celebrate the many accomplishments of the national and local programs; we acknowledge innovative approaches used to support seniors; and we look at how education can help communities understand and use nutrition services. Please join us in celebrating this milestone by promoting the anniversary, the program, and the impact of nutrition services this March and beyond. 
Check out this anniversary awareness webinar (YouTube) for a look at what's to come!
Logo: "50 Years" in a blue cooking pot with multi-colored hearts coming out of the vented lid. Text at the bottom reads, "Senior Nutrition Program. Celebrate. Innovate. Educate."
Got an Hour? Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed Now!
TCOA's Meals on Wheels (MOW) program is in need of volunteers, especially in the Lansing area. As we continue transitioning more routes back to daily deliveries of meals, we estimate needing several dozen new volunteers in Greater Lansing alone! Some volunteers choose to deliver meals on a regular basis (i.e. every Tuesday) and others sign up as "on call" or substitute volunteers that we can contact to fill in on a route as needs arise. Both types of volunteers are critical to meeting the nutritional and social/check-in needs of MOW participants.

Volunteering with TCOA and Meals on Wheels is:
Impactful. The Nutrition Program served over 3,700 clients and 637,300 meals in Fiscal Year 2020. This includes home-delivered meals and Congregate Site meals.
Local. Meet your fellow community members.
Good for You. There are several health benefits of volunteering.
And only takes about one hour! Pick up coolers and/or hot bags from a nearby site, deliver to about 10-15 participants, and return the bags to the original site. Deliveries occur over the lunch hour (exact time is flexible) and generally occur Monday-Wednesday, but will soon have Thursday and Friday options once again.

We understand gas prices can be a barrier to volunteering. Mileage reimbursement is available!

Get Started
Complete the volunteer application at www.tcoa.org/volunteer or call 517-887-1377. Businesses or groups who have several members interested in delivering meals are encouraged to contact us about Adopting a Route!
Tax Assistance for Seniors
The AARP Tax Aide program is continuing to offer tax filing assistance through April 8 to lower income older adults who need help with their returns. Even seniors with no taxable income to report can benefit from Homestead Property Tax Credits or other refunds by filing a tax return. Appointments are available at Foster Community Center, 200 N Foster Ave, Lansing, by calling TCOA at 517-887-1440. Appointments are also available at the Dewitt Township Hall by calling 517-668-0270.
"A Matter of Balance" Returns in Person April 5
TCOA has officially scheduled the first in person workshop since COVID began in March 2020! We will be offering Matter of Balance at United Church of Ovid on Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 5 – April 28 from 9:30 – 11:30 am. This workshop is for older adults who are concerned about falls and want to learn ways to prevent falls. COVID-19 precautions will still be in place, including face masks. Exercises for balance, coordination, and flexibility are included in the workshop but this is not an exercise class. For details, contact Christine at 517-887-1450 or histedc@tcoa.org. TCOA and Area Agencies on Aging statewide continue to offer a wide variety of online workshops as well. To see a full list and how to register visit: https://www.tcoa.org/classesevidence-based-programs/.
MARCH VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Featuring: Gloria Kovnot
Please join us in congratulating Gloria on being in this month's TCOA volunteer spotlight! Gloria was recognized as the Michigan Senior Citizen of the Year in 2021, and has been a friend of TCOA's for many years. From TCOA's Tammy Lemmer: "Gloria is a passionate advocate for TCOA and the seniors we support. She brings great ideas, and even more importantly, she invests her time and talents and takes action in support of those ideas."

In Gloria's own words: "The majority of my working experience was in business, whether working with my husband, Sonny, in his family business or working on my real estate career. My love for seniors came from watching my Mom and her two sister age. I lovingly referred to them as my 'Three Musketeers.'

By their example, they showed me what really was important as we age. Family, community service and living an independent life with dignity is the legacy they left for me. There was no surprise that I gravitated to TCOA, first representing Eaton County on TCOA’s Advisory Council and now representing Ingham County on TCOA’s Advisory Council.  I am on AARP’s Leadership team and the MSU Age-Alive Leadership Council. I founded Delta Township Senior Council. I love walking, healthy cooking, reading mysteries, puzzling and having conversations on the importance of community service as it is the most powerful thing you can do as we age for our health and wellbeing."
Gloria is wearing a black coat, hat, and sunglasses. She is standing on a piece of exercise equipment on a snowy, sunny day in Sharp Park.
Gloria is shown here at Sharp Park using a piece of exercise equipment specifically built for older adults. Gloria had an idea for an adult gym, and the Senior Council’s Grant Committee successfully wrote the grants to fund it. Delta Township Parks Department did the install.
March 13-19: AmeriCorps Week
March 13-19 is AmeriCorps Week, which recognizes the millions of Americans who’ve chosen to serve their country through AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors. This event also encourages more Americans of all ages to follow in their footsteps in service.

This year’s theme is “Together, we are AmeriCorps.” Service brings people together and bridges divides. Shout out to TCOA’s AmeriCorps Member, Carey Draeger, who coordinates the Senior Proxy Project!
TRI-COUNTY OFFICE ON AGING www.tcoa.org