Northwest Missouri Area Agency on Aging

Participants at the Maryville Senior Center are Experiencing

Benefits from Tai Chi

Tai Chi has affected their lives and is beneficial for reducing the risk of falling.

Click HERE for a picture and more information.

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Congratulations, Linda Lambright!

Linda was recently named The Savannah Reporter's Person of the Year!  

She has served as the administrator of the Andrew County Council on Aging, Inc.

(the Andrew County Senior Center) since 1984.  More information is available on the newspaper's website -- click here.

Congratulations!

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>>Active Aging Resource Center, Gallatin

~GHS Outreach~

Gallatin High School Lady Bulldogs, representing fall sports, were guests of the Active Aging Resource Center recently.   Breakfast was prepared by seniors and the Center staff; and many athletes, coaches and administrators enjoyed good food and drawings for prizes.  Several businesses, banks and other leaders of the community donated food for the event.   Varsity football cheerleaders, softball and golf student athletes were invited. 

Vera Nelson said the goal of this event, called "Thanks for Being a Leader at Our School"  was to introduce area youth to area seniors and to provide a place for them to interact.  The athletes were invited to visit often and to volunteer at the center. 

~Falls Prevention~

Wayne Wood, a retired construction worker, designed new handrails to place along the sidewalk in front of the Active Aging Resource Center in Gallatin.  The city will paint the handrails and step yellow to make them more visible, according to Deanna Lewis, administrator at the Center.  "We've had lots of falls over the years at the center," said Lewis.  "This will hopefully do much to help with that problem."   

Woods arranged to have the handrails built and then, after securing approval from neighboring businesses, he installed them himself.  Deanna further noted that this will make it safer and easier for visitors who have accessibility concerns to come into the Center.

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>>Plattsburg!

The Plattsburg Senior Center assessed the needs of their building to better serve their clients, planned their strategy to meet the needs and approached their local bank to secure a loan.  Timing was everything in their case--the US Bank Trust Department was administering a Trust that was designated to be distributed to local 501(c)3 --(non-profit) organizations.

The Center fit that definition, so branch manager Genice Read advised them to apply for the grant. 

Center Director Roger King said that they are so thankful for the grant, and it will make vital repairs to the kitchen.   (Pictures below.)

This donation will greatly augment fundraising efforts by the Center and local tax funds. 

Board members and other representatives received a check from Genice Read in August.   (L-R) James Carter; Brenda Stocklas, Board Secretary;  Roger King, Center Administrator; Marian Freeman, Board Treasurer; Nan Skidmore, Maurine Bodenhausen, Board President; Genice Read and Charlie Saint were pictured in this recent photograph which appeared in the Clinton County Leader.   Photograph by Becky Black.

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Below are some renovation pictures that Senior Center Administrator Roger King shared.  It is amazing what they accomplished in a short amount of time!

(There is an option in the lower right corner of the above slideshow to view full page.  Once the site opens, you should be able to click on "View Slide Show" and then touch your computer's spacebar to advance through the slides, once the full-page slides load.)

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>>Chillicothe!

The Grand River Multipurpose Center in Chillicothe has been a busy place.  One of the long-time volunteers for the Center donated half of her prize hybrid iris bulbs that she and her late husband had planted, tended and shared with the community.  Senior center staff and volunteers dug, wrapped and sold a portion of the bulbs as a fundraiser for the Center.  This became the "Flags for the Flagpole" project and raised enough money to buy and erect a flagpole.

In the meantime, some students and a teacher from a local school came to pull weeds around and inside the sidewalk and generally help spruce up the area around the Center.  They plan to come back and help beautify around the new flagpole.

The Chillicothe newspaper featured the Center in their "A Day In The Life" series.  Friday is Pie Day was a part of the write-up and told the story of a volunteer who has faithfully made pies and donated them to help raise funds for the Center every Friday. 

Exercises, painting classes, scheduled dances, delicious meals and other activities rounded out the summary of a day at the Center.   The article in its entirety is available at www.mychillimo.com 

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>>Marceline

The Marceline Area Nutrition Program received USDA Rural Development funding to help purchase new kitchen equipment. The Center provides nutritious meals for seniors, both in the center or through home delivered meals.  A certificate representing the award was presented to the Nutrition Center.  The grant funds originated from Rural Development’s Community Facility Grant program. These community facility grants provide funding for essential public improvements to public bodies and non-profit corporations with substantial ties to the local community. The remainder of the cost of the kitchen equipment was provided by the Marceline Area Nutrition Program. The center is located at 229 West Hauser.

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