Your quarterly news & updates | |
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The Muskegon Millage Minute is your source for regular updates on programs and services funded by the Muskegon County Senior Millage, which was approved by county voters in August of 2016.
Members of the Muskegon County Senior Activities Committee (MCSAC) make recommendations for programs and services to the full board of commissioners. MCSAC members are: Commissioners Kim Cyr, Marcia Hovey-Wright, and Bob Scolnik; Rachel Cereska, Peggy Foster, Greg Scott, Robert Sewick, Linda Vines, and Steve Warmington. Greg Scott chairs the committee.
Senior Resources of West Michigan, the area agency on aging for Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa counties, is the administrator of grants, and produces this quarterly newsletter update. If you have questions about the Muskegon County Senior Millage, please contact Karla Betten at Senior Resources, 231-733-3593, or email kbetten@seniorresourceswmi.org. Contact Lisa Tyler, communications director, at ltyler@seniorresourceswmi.org, if there is something specific you'd like to see covered in a future newsletter.
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Program providers share program highlights
At the November Senior Activities Committee meeting, a few millage-funded programs shared updates on their programs. See brief summaries below.
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AgeWell Services - Lunch and Activity Centers | |
AgeWell Services offers lunch and activities in several areas of Muskegon County, thanks in part to senior millage funds.
Those attending must be 60 or older and live in Muskegon County. There is a choice of a hot meal, salad, or sandwich, and each of the luncheons also offers an activity.
The focus on the activity revolves around spiritual, physical, intellectual, nutritional, or social. At the Holton Lunch & Activity Center, Jan and Emma shared what they enjoy at the luncheons.
"I love the meal, I love the friendship," said Jan (pictured on the left of Emma). Hugging Emma, she said, "I made a lifelong friendship. I go to exercise class, We love the activities. We have a good time. I have learned so much - about Medicare, senior programs. I've learned a lot and I'm visiting new places. We're all friends; if someone is not there, we wonder where they are. We have fun!"
Emma added that she enjoys the resources they bring in. "The companionship with others is the most important."
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Casnovia Township - Monthly Meal | |
Casnovia Township holds a monthly meal for area older adults. In November, they held a Thanksgiving feast. A local restaurant catered a full dinner that included turkey and stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and carrot cake. Some of the senior ladies decorated tables with a Thanksgiving theme and gave away the centerpieces. There was not a speaker, but in December there will be a presentation on SafeSeniors regarding common scams and financial exploitation.
"Our seniors look forward to this dinner each month and we are grateful that we can provide a place for them to come and socialize with others in their community," said the coordinator.
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Ravenna Township - Monthly Meal | |
Peggy Manzer runs the monthly social and meal for Ravenna Township. They began their program at the fire hall but quickly outgrew it. They average 50 participants, with an average age of 80.
"It is a joy working with them," Manzer said. "It's been a valuable resource to be part of the congregate meal - socialization, especially. We engage the community. We have a team of volunteers who help decorate, serve, and clean up. The FFA has shared presentations, the school choir did a Christmas sing-along, a local dance studio performed, NHS has served meals, elementary students made cards."
Speakers have included Senior Resources, a hearing wellness center, and the Alzheimer's Association. They have an annual picnic and soup/chili cookoff.
Manzer said she started calling participants to confirm their attendance, which "was a lifeline during COVID." She has continued calling them to make connections.
Ravenna also has a grocery program, where they bring older adults monthly to larger stores in Muskegon, using a donated church van. They also stop at Pine Grove and Nelson Place when they have room. During COVID, volunteers shopped for older adults, and they still do that for a few, she said. The shopping trip is another social interaction.
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Senior Millage at work in Egelston Township
The Egelston Township meal and activity continues to be popular. Held the third Thursday of the month from 1-4 p.m. at the VFW on East Apple Avenue, the meal is open to any adult 60 or older in Muskegon County. A variety of activities, ranging from bingo to speakers, occurs from 1-3 p.m. and the meal is served at 3.
For more on this program, and other millage-funded programs, visit this website.
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Fiscal year reports show senior millage programming usage
Older adults in Muskegon County continued to access a wide variety of programs and services for the entire fiscal year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021 - Sept. 30, 2022).
Senior Resources shared its quarterly reports with the Senior Activities Committee recently. These unaudited reports can be found here on the website.
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