Thanks to the kind donation of a matching grant provided by an anonymous benefactor, your generous donation during our winter fundraiser will be doubled up to $5,000 through the end of December.
Although we are very grateful to our current funding partners, Archuleta County, the San Juan Basin Area on Aging, the Town of Pagosa Springs and grants from private foundations, still, it is not enough.
Thirty-seven percent of our funds are dependent on our ability to fundraise, via campaigns, community events, and the generosity of people like you.
Unfortunately, we have been informed that we can expect an 18 percent decrease in funding this next fiscal year even while our operation costs and need for services continue to increase.
But, with your help, we can make a difference and enhance the lives of our 60-and-older community and those who care about them.
Please jump in today with your 100 percent-matched donation and join in our ongoing efforts to provide our cherished elders, who have given so much to this community, with nutritional, health and social programming that will continue to enrich their lives.
Donations can be made directly to ASI, located in the Ross Aragon Community Center at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., or by mail P.O. Box 3444, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147.
We also take donations by phone at (970) 264-2167 or online donations via our Colorado Gives ASI winter fundraising page: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/Asifallfundraiser.
Meals on Wheels volunteers needed
For more than 50 years, the Pagosa Senior Center (established in 1971)/ASI (established in 2013) has been meeting the social and nutritional needs of older adults (age 60 and better) in our community.
We serve thousands of nutritious meals annually in Archuleta County, and volunteers deliver Meals on Wheels and friendly visits/wellness checks to homebound older adults.
We depend on more than 55 volunteers annually to help us serve and deliver meals and provide other wrap-around services.
The cost of each meal is $10.50, but we only ask for a suggested donation of $6 per meal. Meal recipients are asked to contribute what they can afford, and no one is ever turned down.
Meals are delivered Monday through Friday. Participants must be at home to receive meals. Meals will not be left.
Meals on Wheels volunteers receive background checks and training prior to delivery. Typically a volunteer shift is one day a week from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. depending on the size of the route. Staff works closely with volunteers to allow for periodic breaks.
If you are interested in volunteering, please stop by the ASI office at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. to pick up an application. Questions? Please call ASI at (970) 264-2167.
Healthy aging and yoga
therapy classes series
The Healthy Aging Yoga Series continues to be offered in person at the Pagosa Senior Center on Mondays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
It is 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 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.
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 request that individuals new to the series arrive early for intake inquiries and to please communicate with our new instructor, Kimberly Anderson, directly by email at zinkgraf@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 Nov. 22, Dec. 6 and Dec. 20.
Participation 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.
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.
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, Nov. 14 — Stuffed giant portobello mushroom with veggies and feta, couscous, garlic toast, garden salad, fruit, chocolate pudding and milk.
Friday, Nov. 15 — Korean pork ribs, quinoa brown rice, glazed ginger carrots, garden salad, fruit, fortune cookies and milk.
Monday, Nov. 18 — Chicken and dumplings, romanesco broccoli, garden salad, fruit, cherry pie and milk.
Tuesday, Nov. 19 — Beef Frito pie, cornbread, sour cream, avocado, cheese, blueberry cobbler, garden salad and milk.
Wednesday, Nov. 20 — Baked cod, broccoli hollandaise, bread pudding with rum sauce, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Thursday, Nov. 21 — Pork tenderloin with cranberry ginger sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, garden salad, cottage cheese, fruit and milk.
Friday, Nov. 22 — Beef lasagna, wilted spinach and onions, garlic bread, garden salad, fruit, cranberry nut muffin 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.
Mobile food pantry service
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.
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.
