Meals on Wheels of Pagosa Springs is a food service provided by the Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) for those homebound older adults needing a hot, home-cooked and home-delivered meal at a low cost.
The cost of a meal historically was a $5 donation. Starting in January 2023, the suggested donation was raised to $10 for all meals (Meals on Wheels, caregiver, dine in, pick up, grab n go, guests) made by the Pagosa Senior Center and Community Cafe.
As a reminder, this increase in cost was being requested as a suggested donation and no one was turned away for failure to pay. The increase was primarily due to increasing food and labor costs along with a decrease in funding; however, this proved to be discouraging to clients and meal participation decreased.
With this in mind, the ASI board of directors met this February and voted to decrease the suggested donation amount to $6 for meals (Meals on Wheels, caregiver, dine in, pick up, and Grab-N-Go), but for guests (anyone age 59 and younger) the meal price will be $10.50 per meal.
We appreciate your support and are grateful to be serving the older adult community hot, nutritious, and delicious meals. If you have questions, please contact ASI at (970) 264-2167.
Senior Discount Card
The Senior Center is continuing its annual tradition of providing a local discount card for those ages 60 and better.
The discount card encourages seniors to support local recreational, restaurant, medical and retail services by obtaining a senior discount card for a small fee that serves as a fundraiser for ASI.
These local businesses provide a discount ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent off services.
For more information, visit http://www.psseniors.org/discount-club.html or stop by our offices at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. to pick up your card. For more information, contact us at (970) 264-2167.
Grant available for adult learners
Are you a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous or person of color) adult age 55 or better living in Archuleta County eager to pursue further education? Here’s your chance.
ASI, in coordination with the Spanish Fiesta Committee, is delighted to announce a $1,000 educational grant available exclusively for these adult learners in our community.
The grant aims to support individuals seeking to enhance their skills, pursue new career paths or simply satisfy their thirst for knowledge. Whether you aspire to enroll in a vocational program, attend workshops or pursue a degree, this grant can provide the financial boost you need to turn your educational dreams into reality.
ASI and members of our local Spanish Fiesta Committee believe that education is a lifelong journey and it’s never too late to invest in oneself. This grant is designed to remove financial barriers and empower adults in our community to pursue their educational goals.
To be eligible for the grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Reside in Archuleta County.
• Be 55 years of age or older.
• Be Black, Indigenous or a person of color.
• Demonstrate a commitment to furthering their education.
• Submit a compelling application outlining their educational goals and how the grant will be utilized.
Applications are now open and will be accepted until March 20. A scholarship selection committee composed of community leaders will review all applications and select the most deserving candidates.
ASI encourages all motivated BIPOC, 55-and-older adults in Archuleta County to take advantage of this opportunity. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, explore new interests or simply expand your horizons, this grant can be the catalyst for your educational journey.
Don’t let financial constraints hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Apply for the $1,000 educational grant today and take a significant step toward a brighter future.
For more information and to access the application form, contact the ASI office at (970) 264-2167 or stop by the office.
Healthy aging yoga therapy class series
This winter, a healthy aging yoga series will be offered as a hybrid class at the Senior Center on Mondays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Classes will be structured by therapeutic yoga tools and techniques with chair movement, standing stretches, gentle postures, breathing practices and reflective meditative moments.
Monthly themes for the series will include topics such as sustainable strength for healthy aging individuals, brain health, heart and cardiovascular health, mental and emotional well-being, community connections, and stress management, to name a few.
Classes will be educational for participants to utilize practices in daily life and are meant for all levels of experience with yoga.
The class is hosted by local yoga therapist AJ Connors, with a hybrid focus for the winter months, blending in-person, online and, occasionally, recorded classes. Zoom sessions will be streamed at the Senior Center to provide the community experience to practice together or can be accessed at home if weather is a factor.
Mats and chairs will be provided at the Senior Center; some blocks and Therabands are available, too. The addition of yoga props is always welcomed.
We are requesting that individuals who are new to joining the series arrive early for intake inquiries and to please communicate with AJ directly by emailing ajconnorslove@gmail.com.
Bingo
The Senior Center will be hosting bingo twice a month on Friday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Bingo will be on March 8, March 15, April 5 and April 19.
The price to participate is free and we ask you bring yourself and a friend for joyful fellowship. We will provide prizes from local businesses for all winners, and snacks will also be provided.
No RSVP is required; just show up. All ages are welcome, but we ask those 18 and younger to come with an adult chaperone.
For more information, contact us at (970) 264-2167.
T’ai Chi Chih
The Senior Center will be offering T’ai Chi Chih with accredited instructor Patti Popovich each Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the dining hall to support older adults who want to discover purpose and fulfillment in this transitional phase of life.
T’ai Chi Chih is not a martial art, but rather a tool for self-healing. Softness, flow and effortlessness are the guiding principles in this practice.
All classes will be free for older adults (age 60 and better) and will last approximately one hour in the dining hall.
No special clothing or equipment is required.
For more information, call (970) 264-2167.
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 Friday
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 $6, 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, March 7 — Pork tenderloin with apricot glaze, pearled couscous, buttered turnips, garden salad, dessert, fruit and milk.
Friday, March 8 — Red curry cod with jasmine rice, green beans with peppers, garden salad, dessert, fruit and milk.
Monday, March 11 — BBQ pork ribs, creamed corn, garden salad, apple crisp and milk.
Tuesday, March 12 — NM chicken enchilada casserole, pinto beans, Spanish rice, garden salad, fruit, biscochitos and milk.
Wednesday, March 13 — Cajun shrimp and grits, zucchini casserole, garden salad, fruit, blueberry muffin, and milk.
Thursday, March 14 — Vegetarian lasagna with white sauce, broccolini, garlic bread, garden salad, fruit, lime tart and milk.
Friday, March 15 — Chipotle lime tilapia with tartar sauce, brown rice, sauteed kale, garden salad, cottage cheese, 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 $6 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.
Mobile food pantry service discontinued
The Mobile Food Pantry Service has been discontinued due to funding shortages. Older adults needing a ride to a local food pantry should contact the MET to schedule a ride with its paratransit service. For more information, contact Lavonne at (970) 264-2250.
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.
Mindful drawing
Mindful drawing is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join our friendly instructor, Roberta Strickland.
Classes are every Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. in the Senior Center. This activity is open to all ages. Help us create an intergenerational community. For those under 18 and/or with disabilities, you are welcome to join us, but we kindly ask you to please bring an adult chaperone with you.
Bridge
The longest-played bridge game in Archuleta County takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 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.
Hand and foot card game
Whether you are new to hand and foot or interested in learning, please join us most Tuesdays at 1:15 at the Senior Center.
This card game involves four rounds of playing until the final round is reached — some two to three hours later. Plan to stay and meet some new friends or catch up with those you have missed over the last couple of years.
No experience is necessary, so come willing to learn.
