The Rocky Mountain Health Foundation board has approved $10,000 for year two of Archuleta Seniors Inc.’s (ASI’s) Basic Needs Fund grant.
Basic needs funds help to ensure that individuals and families are housed, have access to transportation, feel safe and do not go hungry.
ASI funds are used for general operating expenses for facilitating our meals (congregate, Meals on Wheels and caregiver), and social and isolation prevention services at low rates or at no cost.
Rocky Mountain Health Foundation also understands that staff are the most precious resource for any organization. Therefore, they made an additional restricted grant of $1,000 to help support the emotional and physical well-being of ASI staff. In past years, staff have been awarded these funds and have enjoyed a day trip on the train from Durango to Silverton and have been allowed personal discretion to purchase items that support self-care.
The ASI staff and board of directors thanks the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation for their generous support of older adults in Archuleta County.
ASI Christmas Party set for Dec. 20
The community is invited to attend a casual and festive Christmas party at the Pagosa Senior Center on Wednesday, Dec. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come for lunch and stay for a joyful time together.
Plans are in the works to have music, and we will follow lunch with hot coffee served alongside house-made holiday desserts. We are planning a pseudo snow fight, possibly some shenanigans with Santa Claus and a few door prizes to jazz up the moments we share together.
Join us for lunch, making a reservation before that day or by 9 a.m. that Monday morning by calling or texting (970) 264-2167.
Art class set for Dec. 14
The second of this month’s art classes will take place on Thursday, Dec.14. We will be making a globe out of old Christmas cards.
This involves cutting 20 circles, all the same size, and gluing them together in a specified way. It is easy to do and the results are gorgeous, so come join in on the fun. The class will begin at 1:15 and is free to attend. All supplies will be provided. No reservations are required, but space is limited, so be sure to be there by 1:15 p.m.
Our teacher will be Denise Fisk, who is a retired elementary art teacher from Iowa. She loves sharing art techniques with her classes.
So, come to the senior center with a friend and see how your old Christmas cards can be turned into useful pieces of art.
Register by Jan. 24, 2024, for Mather art kits
Mather is introducing the Do-It-Together Art Community in a Box, where you can get creative without leaving home.
We’re continuing our unique free program for those 55 and better. Explore the simple elegance of printmaking and with weekly online conversations with a community of peers.
Every participant receives a complimentary art kit in the mail with the materials and step-by-step instructions for creating six unique printmaking projects, including relief printing, collagraph, eco printing and three more.
You’ll get instructions for each project in free virtual learning sessions. And if you want to ask questions, build lasting connections, or share your work, Mather has a dedicated Facebook community page for participants to ensure the creativity doesn’t stop once a project is finished.
This program is open to (but not limited to) those who have already participated in the Fiber Arts D.I.T. Kit.
Sign up to try this completely new kit at https://www.mather.com/programs/dit-art-kits. Space is limited and registration closes Jan. 24, 2024. The kits will ship in late January, and online sessions will start on Feb. 13, 2024.
Senior conversations
Join us Mondays at 1:15 p.m. for a series of “Senior Conversations” with local Bill Salmansohn.
He will lead the group through mindfulness exercises and discussion of various topics pertaining to aging in Archuleta County. Explore and discover for yourself answers to your questions and concerns.
The meeting will be held in the Senior Center in the dining hall. Snacks will be provided.
Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club
The Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club holds monthly meetings the second Saturday of each month at the Senior Center.
It meets each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to be creative, share ideas, connect with friends, learn new techniques, share supplies and indulge in a potluck lunch together.
Bring your scrapbooking projects — or any crafting project that you may want to work on with the group. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive notifications each month of the upcoming meeting along with handy tips and tricks for scrapbooking, please send your request to copenhavercreative@gmail.com.
Share lunch Monday through Thursday
Join us at the Silver Fox’s Den, aka the Community Cafe, in person for daily hot/cold meals Mondays through Thursdays at the Community Center between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. It is open to all. Pickup is available all week, including Fridays.
Our dining hall is open to all ages and welcomes you all with kindness and warmth. We provide hot/cold meals for anyone in the community interested in a nutritious and delicious meal. For those 60 or older we request a suggested donation of $10, but no one will be turned away. There is a $10.50 charge for guests under the age of 60.
Meals include a main course, side dish, fruit/dessert, garden salad plus beverage. Some popular menu items include Frito chili pie, pork tenderloin with harvest chutney, Singaporean pork ribs, vegetarian lasagna, Hawaiian shrimp with coconut rice and always a beautiful green salad. Many of our items are locally sourced and organic.
Our chef works with a team of local food professionals to hand-prepare your meal for dine-in service in our cozy dining room (with an amazing view of the San Juans) or for takeout (via our convenient drive-through). Our menu changes daily.
To reserve your meal for the day, please make your reservation via text or phone call to (970) 264-2167 by 9 a.m. weekdays.
Community Cafe menu
Thursday, Dec. 14 — Honey garlic chicken, fried rice, spring rolls, garden salad, fruit, vanilla yogurt and milk.
Friday, Dec. 15 — Chipotle lime tilapia, jasmine rice, sauteed kale, garden salad, fruit, milk and cookies.
Monday, Dec. 18 — Greek spanakopita pie with filo, cauliflower rice, garden salad, fruit, milk and carrot cake.
Tuesday, Dec. 19 — Cod and shrimp Veracruz, roasted cauliflower, garden salad, fruit and cottage cheese, and milk.
Wednesday, Dec. 20 — Beef fajitas with peppers, onions, tomatoes, flour tortillas, sour cream and guacamole; garden salad; fruit; and milk.
Thursday, Dec. 21 — Turkey breast with stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, garden salad, raspberry delight and milk.
Friday, Dec. 22 — Sliced ham with apricot glaze, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Grab-N-Go meals
Dine-in and Grab-N-Go meal reservations and cancellations are required. Please call or text by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you want to pick up a meal. A suggested donation of $10 helps to sustain our program. For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10.50. No one will be turned away for their inability to donate. Please call or text us at (970) 264-2167 to make a reservation.
Meals on Wheels
We deliver fresh Meals on Wheels five days a week (and provide frozen Meals on Wheels for weekends) to homebound Archuleta County residents. Call or text us at (970) 264-2167.
Text reservations
Don’t forget that we offer a convenient texting service for you to communicate with us. Text us at (970) 264-2167. When texting, please include your name, phone number and the days you want a meal. If you are canceling a reservation, please include your name, phone number and the days you want to cancel.
Texting services are available for dine-in meal reservations, Grab-n-Go meals and Meals on Wheels recipients.
COVID-19 test kits available
Stop by the Senior Center to pick up a pack of six free COVID-19 tests kits for your personal use. These kits are available to anyone in the public who needs affordable access for health promotion and disease prevention.
Mahjong
Mahjong is a 19th century Chinese tile-based game that is commonly played with four players. Each player receives 13 tiles with a goal to make matching sets and pairs (like poker). To win, a player must form four sets and one pair.
Come to the Senior Center to learn or play every Tuesday at 1:15 p.m.
Medicare call by appointment
For anyone who needs help enrolling and navigating Medicare plans, the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging helps with parts A, B and D. They can also help you with fraud concerns and troubleshooting any billing issues you may be having. By appointment only. Please call the Medicare line at (970) 264-0501, ext 2.
Bridge
The longest-played bridge game in Archuleta County takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:15 p.m.
Bridge is a four-player card game with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. It is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. Come alone or bring a partner.
Supporting ASI
Please support our ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County.
You may mail your donation to P.O. Box 3444, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 or please visit our website, http://www.psseniors.org/ (donation button). Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. For more information about Archuleta Seniors Inc., please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.
There is also another way to donate.
Are you 70 and half years old or better? Do you have an IRA from which you need to take a distribution? Did you know you can make charitable donations directly from your IRA without paying taxes on the distribution, up to $100,000 per year? The donation from the account would be payable to Archuleta Seniors Inc. and sent to PO Box 344, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. This gift option is called the IRA charitable rollover or qualified charitable distribution.
