I had the nicest surprise the other night. I got home late and before going to bed I noticed a small padded envelope on my front table. I checked it out and it was from Quincy, MI and my name was written on it.

I thought to myself “who did this come from?” The name was familiar, but it still didn’t click. I opened the envelope and it was a cute Christmas ornament with a handwritten note.

The note just said, “To spin the ball, grab the top and the bottom and push together” and then at the bottom it was written “finished”. I turned the note over and it said “Anna 7-29-2006 Parkinson’s and Mark 1-13-2013 pneumonia.

I walked over to the bed and as I lay down I realized who it was from. I started working for a home care agency in Ann Arbor in 1986 and have opened eight of their nine offices over the years. I was a very practical manager and loved meeting and getting to know many clients and their families in all of the towns and villages.

And of course, when there was a problem or something needed fixing, I was going to find out. Well, I got to know this family because the mother, Anna, was someone who wanted the best for her adult son who was quadriplegic with a severe brain injury. He lived a few houses away from her and her husband Raymond, on a pretty little lake in Quincy. Her son led a normal life and was a truck driver. One day he was driving a truck and his truck got shot at in some kind of coal dispute and he lost control and crossed a huge bridge and crashed.

He survived this horrific accident. His mother fought for him to live his life to the fullest. It was a tiger taking care of her cub. She was amazing. She fought against the insurance company, the trucking company and anyone else she needed when it came to her son. She made sure he was well cared for, had 24 hour care and lived in his own home. She had such an impact on me before I had my own children and it was truly an honor to know her and her family.

Her husband Ray is still alive so he must have sent her, what a wonderful surprise.

Well we had our gathering breakfasts at the Wagoner Community Center and they were not only delicious but we saw people trying something new! If you’d like to come have a nutritious meal with the gang, just give us a call the day before to make your reservation.

Next Friday there will be no activities or lunch at the senior center. We were supposed to celebrate with all of you at our Jingle Bell Ball, but had to cancel this year’s festivities.

We are getting ready for Santa Claus and Santa’s girls to get all gifts wrapped, tagged and wrapped so they can be delivered before Christmas! If you would like to help with this great program, give us a call or drop by for a list of the little items you need. So many of our seniors have been isolated from their friends or family due to COVID and we believe it is time to give back to wonderful people. If you know someone who is alone and needs a little visit from Santa, give us a call.

Hope you have a wonderful week and don’t forget to try something new!

HOLIDAY GIFT PROGRAM

Once again, the senior center would like to partner with the community to help deliver Christmas gifts to homebound seniors in Manistee County. If you would like to help us out, here is a list of gift ideas.

Large print word search books; Kleenex; arts and crafts supplies, sugar-free candies; ordinary sweets; soft drink without sugar; large-print crosswords; throw blankets; religious books; cookies; razors; non-slip socks / slipper socks (men and women, all sizes); stuffed animals, coloring books; puzzles; shawls; Games; handkerchiefs; Hershey’s kisses; quiz books, historical novels; shower gel; remover. The deadline to donate to this program is Tuesday December 14th. Call the senior center if you have any questions. 231-723-6477

COMMUNITY MEALS

The gathering meal site at the Wagoner Community Center will resume gathering meals on November 29. The Gathering Meal Site in Wellston will be handing out lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon, also take-out. The Onekama dining site at the Farr Center distributes meals on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11:15 am (take out).

FOOD BANK

The senior center food bank is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the third Friday of the month. Seniors in Manistee County who are 60 years of age and older are eligible to participate. If you are picking up another senior, make sure you have a power of attorney note, along with their name, address, date of birth, and household information. Donations of cash and non-perishable food are always appreciated. The next food bank will be on January 21 at 260 St. Mary’s Parkway. There will be no food bank in December.

EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE

If you are a senior in Manistee County and need emergency food assistance, call the Elderly Center at 231-723-6477 and speak to a member of staff. We have an emergency pantry that we use to help prevent food insecurity among our seniors during these times.

SENIORS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

The MCCOA has a program designed to help seniors stay independent by reimbursing eligible expenses. If you are a senior in Manistee County, you may receive reimbursement for payments you made for house cleaning, yard work, and snow removal services. For current senior reimbursement program customers, please note that all receipts must be current and no more than 30 days old. Income conditions apply. New customers must complete a registration form. Mail all receipts to 260 St. Mary’s Parkway, Manistee MI. Call the Seniors Center at 231-723-6477 ext. 214, for more information. Once an elderly person leaves their home, they are no longer eligible for the reimbursement program.

EXERCISE OPPORTUNITIES

Sit and Get Fit is at 10 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the Wagoner Community Center. Cardio drum lessons are Thursday evenings at 5:45 p.m. Yoga classes are Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. (chair yoga) and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. (regular yoga). Tai Chi begins at 9 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Zumba classes take place Monday and Wednesday at 2 p.m. All classes are free for all seniors, and donations are accepted for those under 60.

DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP

The Dementia Support Group will meet on the second Thursday of the month. The group is a friendly and supportive gathering for caregivers, family members or anyone interested in learning more about and supporting our community of seniors with dementia. The next meeting will be at 3 p.m. on December 9. Contact Jacki Krolczyk, 231-883-1341 for more information.

PARKINSON SUPPORT GROUP

The Parkinson’s Support Group meets at 11 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month. The next support group meeting will be on December 16 at the Wagoner Community Center. Call Linda Nickelson at 231-690-5048 for more information.

DRUG MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Manistee County Council on Aging has launched a medication management program. Jean Anderson, the RN on staff, is available to help in this area. Call 231-723-6477, extension 215 with your questions.

SENIOR NUTRITION MENU

December 6-10. Menus are subject to change.

Monday: Scrambled egg and sausage, sautéed peppers and onions, diced baked potatoes, blueberry muffin, orange juice

Tuesday: Homemade beef stew, steamed peas, sliced ​​carrots, mixed fruit, biscuit

Wednesday: Chicken cordon bleu, diced squash, mashed red potatoes, diced pears, roll

Thursday: Fish sandwich, mixed vegetables, Brussels sprouts, applesauce, bun

Friday: No gathering meal, the center is closed (Menu of home delivered meals: Lasagna, waxed beans, mix of spring vegetables, fresh fruit salad, garlic toast.)

EVENTS TO COME

December 6

• 9h00 Tai Chi

• 1:00 p.m. Pinochle

• 1:00 p.m. Mahjong

• 2:00 p.m. Zumba

December 7

• 11:00 a.m. Tapping of the toes Tuesday

• 12:30 p.m. Bridge

• 3.30 p.m. Yoga on a chair

December 8

• 9h00 Tai Chi

• 10:30 am TOP

• 11h00 Bingo

• 1:30 p.m. Genealogy group

December 9

• 3:00 p.m. Dementia Support Group

• 10:00 a.m. Cribbage

• 11:00 am Bunco

• 4:30 p.m. Yoga

• 5:45 cardio percussion

December 10

• The center for the elderly is closed