Archuleta Seniors Inc. reflects on accomplishments this year

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By Rose Chavez | PREVIEW Columnist

It’s autumn. Across Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) and our network, we are adjusting ourselves to the cooler mornings and shorter days. We know that many of you share the sentiment that this is one of the best times of the year. In many respects, it is also the calm before the storm of winter and holidays. May we all relish these weeks and take some time to enjoy the fall colors and the crisp weather. 

Looking forward, we see only three months left of 2022 stretching before us. We’re considering the goals we laid out at the beginning of the year, big and small, and how far along we’ve come to bringing them to fruition. ASI is ready to throw a harvest party with all we’ve done this year. 

Here are the details we’re sharing:

• We are now open four days a week, dine-in lunch services are offered Monday through Thursday with pickup and delivery available everyday including Friday.

• We are open for educational programming and entertainment and will be expanding our offerings in the near future.

• We are grateful to our community for supporting us during our recent fundraiser and for all our tireless staff, volunteers and board members who are critical to providing our essential services on a daily basis.

COVID-19 booster
vaccine clinic Nov. 4

Please join us for a drop-in clinic performed by San Juan Basin Public Health on Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. noon at the Pagosa Senior Center located in the Ross Aragon Community Center. 

Please call us at (970) 264-2167 to sign up for the booster so we know how many to plan on for the day of the event. 

Mobile food pantry service available for seniors

The Senior Center would like to remind the community about our mobile food pantry services we provide in partnership with Archuleta County MET to seniors age 60 and older throughout most areas of Archuleta County. 

In order to participate in this program, community members must visit with Barbara Noriega at the Senior Center, located in the Community Center, to fill out an application to qualify for hot meal delivery service and/or the mobile pantry service. The application, called the dining assessment form, is also available on our website at the bottom of the Community Cafe page: http://www.psseniors.org/community-cafeacute.html. For more information, contact us at (970) 264-2167.

Text reservations

Text us at (970) 264-2167. The Community Cafe is now accepting text messaging for meal reservations, cancellations and/or communication of any kind. When texting, please include your name, phone number and the days you want a meal. If you are calling to cancel a reservation, please include your name, phone number and the days you want to cancel. 

Texting services are available for dining-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. 

Medicare call by
appointment 

For anyone who needs help enrolling and navigating Medicare plans, we help with parts A, B and D. We can also help you with fraud concerns and troubleshooting any billing issues you may be having. By appointment only. Please call our Medicare line at (970) 264-0501, ext 4. 

Bridge 

The longest-played bridge game in Archuleta county takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 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.

Future programming
volunteers needed

We are looking to implement new programming in the future and want to rely on the insight and expertise of the community to expand our offerings. We are looking for volunteers to help us coordinate new games, crafts, wellness and intergenerational opportunities. If you are interested, please contact us at (970) 264-2167.

Volunteers needed

The Community Cafe at the Senior Center is requesting volunteers to help with greeting customers. Please call or text us at (970) 264-2167 to volunteer or for more information.

ASI board vacancies

The ASI Board of Directors has multiple vacant positions open for financial oversight and policy implementation for the organization and Senior Center staff. Terms are three years with an option to renew for an additional term. Potential candidates should be at least 55 years of age or older and must have a passion for adult and aging services.

Community Cafe menu

Thursday, Oct. 6 — Corn and potato chowder, wilted spinach, buttermilk biscuit, garden salad, milk and fruit.

Friday, Oct. 7 — English cottage pie with mushroom gravy, roasted cauliflower, garden salad, milk, orange and Jello.

Monday, Oct. 10 — Closed for the federal holiday.

Tuesday, Oct. 11 — Vegetable-stuffed portabello mushroom with couscous, naan bread, garden salad, eclairs and milk.

Wednesday, October 12 — Cajun shrimp and corn grits, Swiss chard, buttermilk biscuit, garden salad, milk and fruit.

Thursday, Oct. 13 – Pork ribs, coleslaw, sweet corn, garden salad, milk and cherry crisp.

Friday, Oct. 14 – Chicken and mushroom crepes, asparagus, garden salad, fruit, milk and chai pudding.

Grab-N-Go meals

Grab-N-Go meals 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 $5 helps to sustain our program. No one will be turned away for their inability to donate. For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10. 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.

Requesting donations

ASI has an immediate monetary need to support ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County. Please consider donating to ASI. 

You may mail your donation to P.O. Box 3444, Pagosa Springs CO 81147 or please visit our website, http://www.psseniors.org/. Donation checks can be written to Archuleta Seniors Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. For more information about ASI, please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.