Dateline January - March 2019 | Page 3

Tell Me More Grandparent for a Day On Wednesday, October 24th, the creative arts room at the Gladstone 55+ Center was illed with laughter, smiles, apples and lour! Nine seniors experienced the joy of grandparenting when they assisted young bakers from the District 622 Preschool program in making apple pies. Adults were paired with the children and together they peeled, sliced, and diced the apples. For many of the bakers, old and young, it was the irst time they had used the apple peeler-corer gadget. After mixing the apples with cinnamon, sugar and lour the children illed their mini pie tin and sealed the crust. The best was yet to come–warm apple pie with whipped topping shared with new friends. Lots of hugs were exchanged as the children went back to their classroom. They were excited to take home their mini apple pies and “grandparents” were excited that the mess was at Gladstone and not their own kitchens! “That was so much fun!” “The children were so well behaved.” “When can we do this again?” Grandparent for a Day is only part of the intergenerational opportunities that exist between the Gladstone 55+ Center and the District 622 Preschool program. Youth have attended Ageless Grace® and have visited the knitting/crocheting group. This winter they will be playing Dominoes with the seniors. In return the seniors will be invited to visit the preschool classes later in the year. Don’t miss the next Grandparent for a Day – Baking Bread. The preschool class will be studying the classic story, The Little Red Hen, and learning the principles of working together and hard work. They will be baking bread with the “grandparents” on Tuesday, January 13 in the afternoon and Wednesday, January 14 in the morning. Call the of ice at 651-748-7250 or stop in if you are interested in joining in the fun. ! NEW Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group There is once again an Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group in the area: Third Thursday of the month 10:30 am at the Salvation Army (2080 Woodlynn Ave, Maplewood, MN 55109) Call 651-779-9177 to RSVP each month. The Salvation Army is also offers Adult Day Care services if you are looking for additional activities for your loved one. Gift Certiϐicates Available for Meals on Wheels Did you know that there are approximately 1,175,263 seniors in Minnesota? That approximately 300,506 of them live alone and approximately 99,897 of them are threatened by hunger? The Gladstone Meals on Wheels program can be a solution to the staggering numbers of seniors who are lonely or have dif iculty accessing food. Volunteer drivers deliver hot meals made from scratch, using locally sourced ingredients, at noontime Monday–Friday. They bring a smile, a cheerful greeting and some brief conversation with each meal they deliver. Gift Certi icates are now available for new or existing Meals on Wheels recipients. The gift certi icates are $6 each and you can purchase as many as you want. To purchase the gift certi icates all you need to do is call Metro Meals on Wheels at 612-623-3363. March is National Nutrition Month. During March, there is lots of focus on hunger in America. However hunger and loneliness exist every day. If you know someone who would bene it from Meals on Wheels, give them the number above or better yet, make the call for them. Consider gift certi icates as a way to get them started receiving daily meals, improved nutrition and a friendly smile. Gladstone Closings During January–March No Meals on Wheels or Senior Center Activities on: January 1, New Year’s Day February 19, President’s Day March 30, Spring Holiday District 622 Community Education • Gladstone 55+ Center • www.isd622.org/seniors • 651-748-7250 3