Caring Cards for Seniors with Oasis Senior Advisors

ERIE COUNTY SENIOR MARCH EDITION SERVICES VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6 MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Erie County Senior Services will continue offering The Frozen Meal Pick up program !! Stay fit dining reopening !!! A full list of the Frozen Meal Program and Stay fit Dining Sites can be found in this edition A message from Erie County Senior Services Commissioner David Shenk: “The frozen meal pick up program is a great option to reduce food inse- INSIDE THIS ISSUE curities among older adults especially during the pandemic and winter RSVP ...... 2 season. Through the weekly pick up, staff is also able to provide a brief MONTHLY RECIPE ...... 3 wellness check in an effort to combat social isolation. We will also con- UNIVERSITY EXPRESS ....4 tinue to offer monthly nutrition handouts and updates on upcoming NUTRITION MENU ...... 5 events within the department to encourage seniors to stay connected” STAY FIT DINNNG SITES 6 FROZEN MEAL SITES ...... 7 FROZEN MEAL MENU ...... 8 The mission of the Department of Senior Services is to promote the well being of all FROZEN MEAL MENU…… 9 older adults through coordinated and cost effective services which enhance their inde- CLUB 99…………………………. 10 pendence, dignity, and quality of life. AGING MASTERY ...... 11

We hear amazing stories from our volunteers about what motivates them to serve. Some are looking for opportunities to make new friends, while others want to dedicate their time and talent to a cause that’s deeply meaningful to them. Usually, there are many reasons why people choose to volunteer!

One of the most profoundly moving reasons we’ve heard came this past fall while delivering a thank you gift bag during our Volunteer Tribute Day to a volunteer in her 90s. As we stood on her porch, six feet away and masked, this 30+ year volunteer shared why she volunteers, and it has something to do with luck.

“I have felt blessed in my life and want to give back,” she said simply when asked what motivated her to keep volunteering after all these years.

There are lots of ways people talk about blessings. Maybe some of it has to do with luck—whether Irish or otherwise! Many of our volunteers have shared similar sentiments as they focus on the positive things in their lives—the lucky coincidences and opportunities that have led to great relationships, wonderful careers, and warm friendships. They also express the gratitude they feel for the luck and blessings they have experi- enced leads them to want to give back.

Volunteering is about giving and serving others. Each year, RSVP members bring a little luck into the lives of those they encounter, whether it’s leading a tour of school children at one of our amazing cultural institutions in Western New York or driving a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment or a haircut.

So we encourage you to consider sharing your time and your talents with those who can benefit. Whether working with refugees, with schoolchildren, wildlife, or with Veterans—you can make our community a luckier place to be for those around you!

Contact RSVP today at [email protected] or call 716-858-7548 to join an upcoming orientation session to learn more about volunteering.

2 RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies Not only are these homemade peanut butter cookies quick and easy to make, they are exceptionally soft and delicious, thanks to a secret ingredient! You only need 4 simple ingredients to pull this recipe together: a box of yellow cake mix, peanut butter, two eggs and a half of a cup of vegetable oil.

Ingredients 1 box yellow cake mix 1 cup peanut butter 2 eggs 1/2 cup oil

Instructions Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, eggs, and oil until well combined. Slowly, add the contents of the dry cake mix to the batter and mix until you get a thick cookie dough. Use your hands to make 15 even balls , then line them up on your baking sheet. Next, use a fork and make a crisscross pattern and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until they start to turn slightly brown. You may never make peanut butter cookies again without cake mix! Serving: 15 cookies

ENJOY…stay well, and look for a delicious new recipe next month!

3 UNIVERSITY EXPRESS

Greetings from University Express! We hope you are staying warm and busy. There are plenty of recordings on our website for you to watch, including two new things! Click here to pursue the list. Stay tuned for some recorded interviews with our instructors!

Do you like to read the classics and wish you had others to share your thoughts with?! You should join our virtual Classics Book Club! We are looking for new members. Past books include Madame Bovary, “Death of a Salesman”, and A Tale of Two Cities. Email Katie Earl at [email protected] to join!

4 NUTRITION

PLEASE NOTE: TOWN OF TONAWANDA AND AMHERST SENIOR CEN- TERS HAVE A DIFFERENT MENU .

We have some exciting news to share with everyone! After pausing for 3 months, Stay Fit Con- gregate Dining Program has the green light to reopen. The re openings began Monday, Febru- ary 22nd at several senior centers across Erie County. Check with your local senior center for additional details. Re-opening guidelines with respect to capacity, sanitizing and postings will be in place. For in- stance, masks have to be worn upon entry to the building until seated at the table, and seats are spaced 6 feet apart. We are also pleased to continue offering frozen meals at our participating sites. Therefore, you will have the flexibility to dine-in at the site AND order frozen meals if you wish to do so! For questions about the congregate dining or frozen meal program, please contact us at 858- 7639. 5 We look forward to seeing all of you at the senior centers again! STAY FIT SENIOR DINING SITES OPEN AS OF MARCH 1ST Akron– Newstead Senior Center Amherst Senior Center Baptist Manor Boston Senior Center Clarence Senior Center Concord Nutrition Site Lancaster Senior Center Maryvale east Complex (Moorman) Northwest Buffalo Community Center Orchard Park Senior Center Sloan Senior Center Town of Aurora Senior Center Town of Hamburg Senior Center Violet Housing West Seneca Senior Center

Additional locations are expected to open in the coming weeks. All locations will follow NYSDOH and CDC indoor dining guidelines. This program provides a safe social setting to help reverse the pandemic’s isolating side effects in our older adult community. For more information or to register, call 858-7639.

6 SENIOR CENTERS THAT OFFER THE FROZEN MEAL PICK UP PROGRAM AKRON NEWSTEAD SENIOR CENTER AMHERST SENIOR CENTER BAPTIST MANOR BOSTON SENIOR CENTER CAYUGA VILLAGE APARTMENTS CHEEKTOWAGA SENIOR CENTER CLARENCE SENIOR CENTER CONCORD NUTRITION SITE FRIENDS TO THE ELDERLY LANCASTER SENIOR CENTER MARYVALE EAST SENIOR COMPLEX (MOORMAN) NORTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER ORCHARD PARK SENIOR CENTER SALVATION ARMY TONAWANDA SCHILLER PARK SLOAN SENIOR CENTER TOSH COLLINS CENTER TOWN OF AURORA SENIOR CENTER TOWN OF EVANS SENIOR CENTER TOWN OF MARILLA SENIOR CENTER TOWN OF TONAWANDA SENIOR CENTER UNITED CHURCH MANOR VIOLET HOUSING WEST SENECA SENIOR CENTER WILLIAM-EMSLIE YMCA WILLIAMSTOWNE VILLAGE

PLEASE NOTE: TOWN OF TONAWANDA SENIOR CENTER AND AMHERST SENIOR CENTER HAVE A DIFFENT MENU.

Erie County Stay Fit Dining Program Frozen Meals Menu – March 2021

TOWN OF TONAWANDA AND AMHERST SENIOR CENTER HAVE DIFFERENT MENU.

The Erie County Stay Fit Dining Program is pleased to announce that we will be continuing to offer the Frozen Meal Pick up program. The program is currently offered at 27 locations across Erie County. The list continues to expand, be sure to inquire with your local senior center for the latest information. The meals are offered in 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 pack varieties. The 3, 6, and 8 packs will have some combination of the meals offered in the 5 pack. The 10 pack will have 2 identical 5 packs. Each meal will include a roll, milk, and dessert. Check out the menu below for the March Frozen Meal menu.

March Five Pack Meal Menus

Meals for Week of March 1st Breaded Chicken Breast with Herb Gravy, Roasted Potatoes, French Bean Medley

Stuffed Shells with Tomato Meat Sauce, Seasoned Spinach with Mushrooms, Cauliflower

Pork Ribette with BBQ Sauce, Scalloped Potatoes, Peas with Red Pepper

Beer Battered Fish, Broccoli, Zucchini with Diced Tomatoes

Roast Beef with Gravy, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, California Vegetable Blend

Meals for Week of March 8th Baked Ham with Pineapple Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Peas

Breaded Chicken Drumsticks, Spanish Rice, Peas & Corn

Cheese Tortellini with Cheese Sauce, Carrots, Mixed Vegetables

Turkey with Gravy, Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole

Vegetable Quiche with Cheese Sauce, Harvard Beets, Broccoli

8 Erie County Stay Fit Dining Program Frozen Meals Menu – March 2021 TOWN OF TONAWANDA AND AMHERST SENIOR CENTER HAVE A DIFFERENT MENU.

Meals for Week of March 15th

Polynesian Chicken with Rice, California Vegetable Blend

Sloppy Joe, Roasted Potatoes, Carrots

Roast Beef with Gravy, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

Stuffed Pepper with Tomato Meat Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Wax Beans

Beer Battered Fish, Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole, Mixed Vegetables

Meals for Week of March 22nd Meatballs with Tomato Sauce & Mozzarella, Cauliflower, Seasoned Spinach

Buffalo-style Chicken Breast, Fiesta Corn, Broccoli

Turkey with Gravy, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Peas

Beef Stew with a Biscuit, Mashed Potatoes

Macaroni & Cheese, Zucchini with Tomatoes, Green Beans

Meals for Week of March 29th Turkey a la King, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots

Baked Ham with Maple Glaze, Scalloped Potatoes, Peas

Roast Beef with Onion Gravy, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts

Eggplant Parmigiana, Broccoli, Cannellini Beans

Baked Fish with Pineapple Salsa, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans

9 CLUB 99

Leap into the month of March like a Leprechaun. Not ready to go back to your local gym or

fitness center no worries we here at Senior Services have you covered. Join our Virtual

Club 99 Class. Classes are held Monday-Friday at 9:00am. Contact [email protected]

or 858-6403. Check with your local senior centers many in person classes are available as

well!!!

WHAT IS AMP?

The Aging Mastery Program (AMP) is a fun and engaging education and behavior change incentive program for aging well.

The AMP core curriculum covers 10 topics. The classroom experience is a mix of didactic and inter- active learning with an emphasis on peer-to-peer interaction. When they graduate from AMP, participants have set goals for positive actions in many aspects of their lives such as exercise, nutrition, fi- nances, advance care planning, community engagement, and healthy relationships.

WHAT ARE AMP RESULTS?

Results have been very encouraging and consistent since the classroom version of Aging Mastery launched in 2013. Results have shown that older adults in the program participants significantly in- creased their:

• Social connectedness • Physical activity levels • Healthy eating habits • Use of advanced planning • Participation in evidence-based programs

Program graduation and satisfaction data continue to provide support that the program resonates with participants as both fun and educational.

80% of program participants graduate (take 7 of 10 classes) 97% find the program fun 98% would recommend the program to a friend

Be sure to check the website erie.gov for classes that will be starting this spring.

11 Combat Social Isolation

Erie County Senior Services hopes you stay safe and healthy during this pandemic! Combating Social Isolation is something we take very seriously, we have compiled a list of resources and activities that can keep you engaged while you are home. Look below for an example of what the page has to offer!!!!

Crafts Fave Crafts- Best crafts for seniors! The Spruce Crafts- Learn how to crochet for beginners! Origami- Simple origami folding instructions. Winter Videos- Step by step paiting with Tracie Kiernan. Modge Podge Rocks Blog- Easy crafts for adults! Mum in the Mad House- Ideas for using felt scraps! Crafts for Seniors - Looking for an inventive and enjoyable way to spend your free time? Check out this extensive list of crafts for seniors. Caring Cards for Seniors with Oasis Senior Advisors - Interested in making cards for seniors stuck at home in Erie County? Call Matt 717-3664 or email [email protected] to volunteer. Good Housekeeping Craft Projects - Good Housekeeping will walk you through fun craft projects using items you can find in your house! Their videos will be posted to their Facebook page. Information on how to make a no-sew face mask