SENIOR CENTER NEWS: Home Meal Delivery Via MET Will End Tomorrow

The program for transportation services from the State Unit on Aging has been revised, curtailing delivery of meals through Archuleta County Mountain Express Transit (MET).

The transit service will still be available to those who require transportation to dine in at the Community Cafe Monday-Thursday.

Community members who received delivery services from the Pagosa Senior Center through our Meals on Wheels program will continue to receive these services through volunteer drivers coordinated by the Center.

We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause and invite the community to use our drive through services to pick up meals to go Monday through Friday or join us and dine in person Monday through Thursday between 11 am and 1 pm.  We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., in downtown Pagosa Springs.

Year End Giving by “Adopting a Senior”
To round out our year-end fundraising efforts Archuleta Seniors, Inc. and the Pagosa Senior Center are announcing our “Adopt A Senior” campaign. As food costs continue to rise and cost of living grows in our beloved Pagosa Country, we are hoping the community will stand in solidarity with our Pagosa Seniors and help pay for wholesome and nutritious meals, medical monitoring and social activities for our community in need. We have a variety of price points that can fit anyone’s budget. $10 = 1 Senior Meal $50 = 5 Senior Meals. $250 = 25 Senior Meals $650 = Feeds a Senior for 3 Months $1300 = Feeds a Senior for 6 months and $2600 = Feeds a Senior for 1 year. You are welcome to make your donation via snail mail, online on our website at www.psseniors.org or feel free to walk in during our office hours and drop off your donation.

Covid-19 Test Kits Available
Stop by the Pagosa Senior Center to pick up a pack of 5 free covid-19 tests kits for your personal use. These kits are available to anyone in the public that needs affordable access for health promotion and disease prevention.

Mobile Food Pantry Service Available for Seniors
The Pagosa Senior Center would like to remind the community about our mobile food pantry services we provide in partnership with Archuleta County MET to seniors age 60 and older throughout most areas of Archuleta County. In order to participate in this program, community members must visit with Barbara Noriega at the downtown Senior Center located in the Ross Aragon Community Center to fill out an application to qualify for hot meal delivery service and/or the mobile pantry service. The application, called the dining assessment form, is also available on our website at the bottom of the Community Cafe page http://www.psseniors.org/community-cafeacute.html. For more information contact us at 970-264-2167.

Engaging Pictures are needed from seniors and their families who live, work and play their best lives in Archuleta County. We are looking for pictures that convey people’s active lifestyles, families, culture and more. We would like to use these pictures in our grant applications, on social media and our website. Please email all pictures to rosa@psseniors.org or feel free to drop them off.

Wingspan & New Programming
ASI is looking to expand our programming options. Wingspan, a game for bird lovers, was donated to the Senior Center and is looking for a champion to help facilitate this engaging board game. Come learn more about this fun game or suggest other ideas to help us find some new and meaningful opportunities to connect over and have fun. Please call or text us at 970-264-2167 to volunteer or for more information.

Community Cafe Menu
Thursday, December 22 – Potato leek soup with crackers, glazed carrots, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Friday, December 23 – Sliced ham with cherry sauce, mashed sweet potatoes, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Monday, December 26 – Closed for Christmas Holiday

Tuesday, December 27 – Barbeque chicken, sweet corn, buttermilk biscuit, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Wednesday, December 28 –.Beef pot road with roasted vegetables and focaccia bread, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Thursday, December 29 – Seafood vera cruz with rice pilaf, dinner roll, garden salad, fruit, milk, pistachio pudding cake.

Friday, December 30 – Pork posole soup with garnishes, tortilla, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Grab-N-Go Meals
Reservations and cancellations are required. Please call or text by 9:00 am the morning of the day you want to pick up a meal. A suggested donation of $5.00 helps to sustain our program. No one will be turned away for their inability to donate. For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10.50. Please call or text us at 970-264-2167 to make a reservation.

Requesting Donations
ASI has an immediate monetary need to support ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County. Please consider donating to Archuleta Seniors Inc. You may mail your donation to PO BOX 3444, Pagosa Springs CO 81147 or visit our website.  Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors, Inc.

For more information about ASI, please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.

Rosa Chavez

Rose Chavez is Executive Director for Archuleta Seniors, Inc. and Public Health Consultant at Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition.