Submitted by Orcas Senior Center

The Orcas Senior Center has a unique opportunity this holiday season and we need your help to get there.

Happily, we are in a position to realize your dreams, as we have a challenge grant offered by two very generous islanders. To get it we need to receive $50,000 in donations by the end of 2017.

Thus far, we are closing in on $40,000 total donations, so we have $10,000 left to go. When we raise $50,000, we double our money, but regardless, every dollar counts and all challenge grant donations will be applied to new initiatives. We need your help to expand and revive the much-loved Hearts and Hands program, become a one-stop Orcas information resource, take a larger role in the community, team up with other organizations (like our summertime trips to Orcasong Farm) and support multi-generational collaborations (such as monthly visits from neighboring schools). Some of you will recognize services as the “village concept.” Yes, we are gathering the building blocks of a village. We could build our own village on our own island for all.

Together, we need to make the senior center the vibrant place it was always meant to be. Donations can be made towards the challenge grant by visiting giveorcas.org and selecting the Senior Center as well as on our website (orcasseniors.org) and by visiting the senior center. We are immensely grateful for your support. It matters for Orcas. Visit orcasseniors.org.

Renew your membership

Don’t forget to renew your Orcas Senior Center Membership for 2017-2018, December is the last month 2016-2017 Members that haven’t renewed will receive the newsletter. To renew, visit our website (orcasseniors.org) for membership forms and mailing info or visit the Senior Center front desk. If you would like to receive the newsletter without a membership, please let us know and we will get you signed up.

Senior Center Survey in Progress

Have you taken the Orcas Senior Center Survey, “How do we Build a Vital Future?” So far, more than 270 islanders have shared their opinion! We want everyone, of all ages, to respond to this survey. To complete the survey, visit the Orcas Senior Center website (orcasseniors.org) or directly access via www.surveymonkey.com/r/OrcasSeniorCenterSurvey. Paper versions of the survey are available at the Orcas Senior Center (360-376-2677) or can be printed from our website (orcasseniors.org). This survey will be only open for a limited time and only takes 15-20 minutes to complete. Thank you for your assistance in answering these questions, it is appreciated.

Loss, Loneliness and Beyond Group

The senior center will host a workgroup on loss, loneliness and beyond for eight Thursdays beginning December 14 at 1 p.m.

Facilitated by Tom Eversole, MS, Hearts and Hands Program director, senior center and Maryann Syers, Ph.D. MSW (licensed clinical social worker in private practice). While the death of a loved one may be the most relentless, irreversible loss we can experience, we can also experience other forms of loss, e.g., losing an important relationship, your health or vitality, your youth, or your identity as a working person. With loss comes grief and mourning, yet loss also brings opportunities for growth. Come join us for group conversation and support, talking about grief and loss, what it means to us, how we deal with it, learn from it and move beyond it. If you know of seniors or disabled adults in our community that could benefit from this offering, please encourage them to attend. The group is offered at no charge. For more information visit the senior center, or contact at (360)376-2677.