Senior Center Spotlight
HARRISBURG –The Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Health (DOH), along with Pennsylvania organ donation organizations, Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) and Gift of Life Donor Program, are encouraging all driver’s license and identification card holders to help save lives by registering to become an organ donor during National Donate Life Month in April.
Today also marks National Donate Life Blue & Green Day. During this special celebration, the public is encouraged to wear blue and green - the recognized colors of organ donation organizations - to share the donate life message and promote the importance of registering as an organ, cornea, and tissue donor.
“Choosing to become an organ donor could help save a life,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “And if you’re considering it, you don’t have to wait until you renew your driver’s license or ID card, you can add the designation anytime.”
Over 49 percent of current driver’s license and identification card holders are registered as organ donors, nearly five million Pennsylvanians.
Currently, nearly 7,000 Pennsylvanians await organ transplants.
“Organ and tissue donation has touched most of our lives, as many of us know a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor who was impacted by organ donation,” said Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “I have seen the positive impact of organ donations on the lives of children and families over the years, and that is why I encourage others to join me and give the gift of life by becoming an organ donor. It only takes a minute to register, and each individual organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people.”
There is no charge for adding the designation to your driver’s license or identification card. To add the organ donor designation to an existing driver’s license or identification card, visit the Organ and Tissue Donation page on the Driver and Vehicle Services website. Once the designation is added, individuals will receive a designation card that they must carry with them to affirm organ donor status until they renew or replace their driver’s license or identification card.
Driver’s license and identification card
Upcoming meals for eat-in only include:
April 15- Parmesan cheese over lemon asparagus pasta, tossed salad with tomato, breadstick and apple crisp; April 16- Stuffed pepper, garlic whipped potatoes, carrots, pudding; April 17- Turkey chef salad, vegetable soup, dinner roll and gelatin; April 18- Sweet & sour pork, rice, broccoli and cauliflower, fresh fruit; April 19- Sloppy joe, baked potato, green beans, fresh fruit.
St. Marys Senior Center
The St. Marys Senior Center is located at 104 Erie Ave. between Erie Avenue and Depot Street, directly across from the parking garage. Director Della Kerchinski is available MondayFriday 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Stop by and pick-up your monthly menu and activity calendar. Coffee hour is 8:30-9:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Come in and enjoy good conversation.
Lunch is served Monday-Friday at 11:45 a.m. with a donation of $4 and reservations need to be made the day before by noon. Membership dues are $12 for a year. Anyone age 55 and over can become a member.
Ongoing activities at the center include: Bridge Club every Monday at 12:30 p.m. Stretch and Strength, an easy exercise class, meets Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:15-11:15 a.m. There is no charge. Card Club meets every Friday at 12:30 p.m.
April activities include: April 15-craft project at 10:15 a.m.; What you need to know about flex/grocery cards by Kellie Ruscioelli from the Office of Human Services at holders, as well as registered vehicle owners, can also support organ donation programs by donating $3 to the Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund at the time of application and/or renewal. Proceeds from the fund are used to educate and promote awareness of the organ donor program through nonprofit organizations like CORE and the Gift of Life Donor Program.
As part of ongoing efforts to increase awareness of organ and tissue donation, ads encouraging organ donation regularly appear on the Motor Vehicle Network at driver license centers. For more information on organ and tissue donation in Pennsylvania or to sign up to become an organ donor, please visit www.donatelifepa.org, www.core.org or www. donors1.org. It only takes 30 seconds to save a life. 11:15 a.m.; and Bridge Club at 12:30 p.m.; April 16-Stretch and Strength at 10:15 a.m.; April 17- Snack Bingo at 12:15 p.m.; April 19-Workshop Healthy Steps for Older Adults 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Card Club at 12:30 p.m. The center now has a Facebook page under Saint Marys PA Senior Center, visit the page for updates.
If you have any questions call the center at 814-781-3555. We are always looking for volunteers so if you have any free time stop by the center or call for information.
Fox Township Senior Center
The Fox Township Senior Center is located at 365 Main Street, Kersey and can be reached at 814-885-8111. The new director is Shirley Gradizzi.
2024 dues are now due only $10 per year please stop in and pay and if you haven’t paid 2023 dues please take care of them too. Stop in to the center and pickup the monthly activity schedule and menu sign up for lunch.
Ongoing activities at the club include: Bingo at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday; Knit and crochet every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.; first Friday of every month Cash Bash Friday live music by Jim Shaffer at 10:30 a.m. Chair yoga is coming, stay tuned for more details.
Activities for April include: April 15-Cinch at 9:30 a.m. and meet the new director at 10:30 a.m.; April 16-Music by Freedom Day of Reckoning at 10:30 a.m.; April 18-Club meeting at 10:30 a.m. and Alzheimers support meeting from 3 to 5 p.m.; April 22-Center’s Volunteer Recognition at 10:30 a.m.; April 23- Election Day Dinner open to the public serving from noon till sold out (Spaghetti and meatballs, tossed salad, Italian bread, drink and dessert)
We would like to see a large crowd for all the activities at the center to show our entertainers that we greatly appreciate them.
The Fox Township Senior Center is looking for volunteers to deliver meals to shut-ins, please contact Shirley at 814-885-8111.
Johnsonburg Senior Center
The Johnsonburg Senior Center is open from 8:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Join in for cards at 12:30 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Mexican Train and Dominoes are Friday at 12:30 p.m. There is line dancing on Mondays at 12 p.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m. A Stretch and Strength class is held at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays. It is light exercises and muscle strengthening that can be done in a chair. Knitting Club meets every Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Please order lunch by 12:30 p.m. the business day prior to the meal by calling JoAnn at 814965-5638. A minimum donation of $4 is suggested to help cover the cost of the meal. Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m.
Club Bingo is the second Friday of every month at 6:30 p.m. The center hosts a monthly Cinch Tournament on the third Sunday of the month. Doors open at 12 p.m.
Upcoming events include: April 14, Cinch tournament at 1 p.m. with a light lunch served before hand; April 15- Free Diabetes Self-Management Class, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; April 16- Pete Largey performing songs from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s at 10:30 a.m.; April 17Right, Left, Center Dice game at 11 a.m.; April 18- ADAS craft project at 10:30 a.m.; April 23Renee Dinant’s presentation on Heart Health and Weight Management at 10:30 a.m.
Senior Junction of Ridgway
The Junction is located at 321 West Main St Ridgway. Hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Lunch is served at 12 p.m.
Every Thursday come to our exercise program called “Happy Yoga” at 10 a.m.
Coming In April Bingocize with Anna! More info coming soon.
April 16 Greg Snelick playing the accordion at 11 a.m.
April 17 come learn how to garden in pots with a master gardener from Penn State Extension at 10:30 a.m. Be prepared to get your hands dirty. Space may be limited so get signed up for this event as soon as possible!
April 23 is Election Day, the Senior Junction will not be open or serving meals.
April 24 We will be creative completing a craft project with a representative from Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services at 10:30 a.m.
May 8 Line Dancing at 11 a.m.
Blood pressure screenings coming to the Senior Junction. More information soon.
Call to reserve a meal before noon the day before or call to find out what exciting things are happening. For more information, call 814-7726786.
Bennetts Valley Senior Center
The Bennetts Valley Senior Center is located at 149 Plum Street in Weedville.
The center is open Monday, Tuesday, and
Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mindy Krulia is the director. She can be reached at 814787-7888 during center hours or on the Facebook page at Bennetts Valley Senior Center. Membership dues for 2024 are $10.
Lunch is served daily at 12 p.m. You must be registered the day prior by 12:30 p.m. Lunch is by donation with a suggested donation of $4. You must be 60 or over to be eligible for the donation price. All others can eat for the regular price of $6.50.
Every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. is Rise and Shine Coffee Time.
There is no charge for coffee, but donations are always welcome.
Ongoing activités at the center includes: Mondays, chair yoga at 10:30 a.m. and on nice days we will be doing outdoor walking; Tuesdays, Bingo at 1 p.m. and open to the public; Blood pressure checks performed the second Thursday of the month at 11 a.m.; Birthday Get Together on the fourth Monday of every month following lunch at 12:30 p.m. with cupcakes!
Upcoming programs, which are all open to the public, include: Tuesday, April 16 at 11a.m., Mary Lou Wehler will be here from hospice to talk about their hospice volunteer program; Thursday, April 25 at 12:15 p.m., Leann from CAPSEA will be here to talk about their programs and do a craft. If you would like to have lunch, please call the center.
We are desperately in need of volunteers to help in the kitchen. If you have a few hours to spare a week, why not help our senior citizens. We also need volunteers to start up some activities such as a card club, book club, etc. If you have a talent you would like to share, stop in at the center or call.
We would like to see a large crowd at the center to show our appreciation to everyone who volunteers their time to come to the center and present a program to our senior members. Please plan to attend and bring a friend along. Remember all the programs are open to the public unless otherwise stated.