UNC’s Mid Valley Senior Center Summer Party United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) invites you to join us for our joyous and celebratory annual Summer Party on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 pm at our Mid Valley Senior Community Center at 310 Church Street in Jessup. New and old friends will come together to celebrate the warmth of summer and the very special 103rd birthday of Julia Mellody, a beloved member of our community. Mellody, an active participant at UNC’s Mid Valley Senior Community Center, is known for her love of parties and her favorite food, ravioli. Our special centenarian birthday cookout bash will be filled with joy, laughter, and live music. And, of course, a delicious cake! We invite you to celebrate summer and wish Julia many more happy and healthy years.
NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania SafetyWorks Week for Seniors NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NWNEPA) served 47 older adult homeowners with much needed home repairs and improvements throughout Lackawanna County as part of SafetyWorks Week for Seniors, formerly NeighborWorks Week, July 4th – 8th, 2022. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 300 volunteers will be coming from all over the northern portion of the United States through a partnership between NeighborWorks and Group Mission Trips, Inc. to make the weeklong event possible. Throughout the week, repairs and improvements will include installation of exterior solar lights, exterior painting, weatherization, landscaping, porch repair, as well as installing wheelchair ramps. Each of the homes being provided services are headed by older adults, many of whom rely on volunteers and organizations like NeighborWorks to assist with repairs and modifications to increase their health and safety, allowing them to be able to continue residing in their homes and communities. NeighborWorks has hosted Group Mission Trips, Inc. volunteers for seven previous workcamps, mobilizing 1,858 volunteers, equating to approximately 50,000 hours of volunteer labor (worth over $1.4 million) to make needed repairs to over 280 separate properties in Lackawanna County
Meals on Wheels of NEPA Serves Smiles to Seniors Local artist, Kathleen McHugh Meals on Wheels of NEPA celebrated National Humor Month by delivering more than 700 sets of postcards depicting food puns to their home-bound clients. Local artist Kathleen McHugh designed the illustrations featured on the front of the cards. This project was made possible by a Humor Therapy Fund Grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “By creating these cards, the Agency’s goal was to improve the moods of the clients it serves and remind them they are not alone,” said Kristen Kosin, Executive Director. “Meals on Wheels of NEPA is often a primary source of contact for clients, and even the smallest bit of humor can brighten someone’s day.” Meals on Wheels of NEPA supports the independent living of home-bound seniors and disabled persons through the delivery of nutrition and supportive services. Each day, the Agency’s clients, whose life circumstances make it difficult or impossible for them to prepare needed nourishment, receive a hot meal delivered by volunteers. In addition to keeping these seniors well-nourished, the Agency often provides the only human contact many home-bound individuals experience each day. Meals on Wheels of NEPA has been in existence since 1969, and to date, has served over 5 million meals.
LIFE Geisinger Wilkes-Barre opens May 3 Older adults in Luzerne County can get the help they need to continue living independently at home as LIFE Geisinger, a day program for seniors, opens its newest location Monday in south Wilkes-Barre. Located at 592 S. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre, the new facility provides comprehensive health and medical care to adults age 55 and older who would otherwise be confined to a nursing home. “LIFE Geisinger has served Luzerne County residents for several years at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre and we are excited to be able to expand those services with a brand-new facility,” said Dr. Richard Martin, LIFE Geisinger medical director. “During this pandemic, it’s important that seniors not only get the medical care they need, but also have access to frequent social activity to enhance their quality of life. LIFE Geisinger provides participants with all that and more.” The new 14,200-square-foot facility includes primary care services with full exam rooms, recreational space, a rehabilitation gym, bathing facilities, a laundry room and a serving kitchen. This triples the capacity of the program in Wilkes-Barre to 150 participants. Previously, LIFE Geisinger operated a small, satellite program at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre with 55 participants, who will transfer to the new location. H. Joyce Morano, M.D., will serve as staff physician at the LIFE Geisinger senior center in Wilkes-Barre as well as at the center located at 2300 Adams Ave. in Scranton. At full operation, LIFE Geisinger Wilkes-Barre will have about 50 full-time employees. For more information about LIFE Geisinger, call 570-808-4780 or visit go.geisinger.org/LIFE.
