Author: Antoni McClarty

Our quilters have been busy quilting this past year. Every year, our group of expert quilters volunteer their time to create beautiful quilts for us to raffle. Unfortunately due to Covid, they have not started meeting together yet but they worked separately to make us some.  Here are this year’s quilts:

 

 

 

Tickets are $6 for one ticket, $15 for three tickets, $20 for 5 tickets, or $40 for 10 tickets.  For every ticket you buy, there are three chances to win! The winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday, November 7 from 3-5pm at the Ypsilanti Senior Center and will be shown live on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ypsiseniorcenter. If the weather cooperates, we will hold the raffle on the patio of the senior center, so you can come and social distance in the park. We hope to have a few speakers from 3-4, and we will be selling last-minute tickets at that time. We will then pick the names at 4pm. You do not need to be present to win. We will call the lucky winners to let them know.

If you would like to support the center but are not interested in winning a quilt, you can donate by visiting this link.

The funds we raise during the Quilt Raffle help support the center in the following ways:
· Replace funds “lost” due to COVID-19
· Provide low cost meals to our community seniors
· Offer affordable classes in arts, crafts, exercise and more
· Providing a large meeting place for all types of community groups
· Support all the new programs we are offering
· And much, much more!

To obtain tickets, call 734-483-5014 or email ypsiseniors@sbcglobal.net.

We thank you for continued support in helping us serve our community!

The Ypsilanti Senior Center recently became an officially recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  As such, we have the great opportunity to raise funds to both continue and expand the work that we do as a community-based organization to support and enhance the lives of local families—particularly older adults.  The Ypsilanti Senior Center’s mission is to create great experiences for older adults in a welcoming environment that encourages learning, active engagement, fitness and healthy living, and this focus is even more important today. Though the doors of the Senior Center building remain closed during this current pandemic, we are working harder than ever behind the scenes (and from the parking lot) to continue to provide essential services that help keep our community healthy, informed, and connected.

Join the volunteer team and help us reach more seniors with services!  The Senior Center is supported by a fun group of old, young, and differently-abled folks who all want to make life easier for our city’s seniors. Do you have some fantastic fundraising ideas? We can use you. Do you love social media and are always in the know? We can use you. Interesting in assisting with rentals? We can use you. Got some time to put some retired expertise to work? We definitely can use you.

Here are the specifics on how you can help:

With the establishment of the 501(c)3 organization, the board and staff of the Ypsilanti Senior Center are striving to personalize and professionalize the marketing communication and fundraising efforts of the Senior Center in order to drive awareness of services, connect with seniors who need assistance, and secure renewable funding.  The board and staff have finalized a brand image (logo package, letterhead, etc.) and brand mission statement, as well as have created a new WordPress website; however, we need assistance with the creation and execution of marketing collateral and fundraising.  Overall, our goal is to increase the Senior Center’s fundraising capacity as well as replace income that normally would have accrued from facilities rentals to expand who we serve and what we provide.

We are seeking people who can:

• Lead or contribute to the development and launch of direct fundraising campaigns, including letter, phone, and email campaigns. Help us reach those who can support seniors!
• Lead or contribute to the development and launch of fundraising events. The Senior Center has traditionally run 3-4 community-building events that have a fundraising component; however, we are seeking to expand and differentiate these events. Help us create exciting, fun events that provide substantial income to allow the Senior Center to expand its services!
• Research and write grants that will support the current operation and activities of the Senior Center. Help us find those resources out there that already exist!

To join us, please contact:

Monica Prince, Executive Director
734-483-5014
ypsilantiseniors@gmail.com

We are incredibly excited about the future and the opportunities that await! We hope you will consider joining us on this journey.

It’s Quilt Raffle time again! Every year, our group of expert quilters volunteer their time to create beautiful quilts for us to raffle.  This year, with COVID-19 shutting the building, the Going to Pieces Gang was unable to finish the joint quilt.  However, we’re delighted to say that one of the members came to the rescue with a beautiful quilt that he had made just for fun, which you can see here!

In all, there will be three quilts raffled. Tickets are $5 for one or $10 for three ($30 for all 10 tickets). For every ticket you buy, there are three chances to win! The winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday, August 30 from 3-5pm at the Ypsilanti Senior Center, and will be shown live on our Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/ypsiseniorcenter.  If the weather cooperates, we will hold the raffle on the patio of the senior center, so you can come and social distance in the park.  We hope to have a few speakers from 3-4, and we will be selling last-minute tickets at that time.  We will then pick the names at 4pm.

The funds we raise during the Quilt Raffle help support the center in the following ways:

• Replace funds lost due to COVID-19 & social distancing regulations
• Provide low cost meals to our community seniors
• Offer affordable classes in arts, crafts, exercise and more
• Providing a large meeting place for all types of community groups
• Support all the new programs we are offering
• And much, much more!

To obtain tickets, contact ypsilantiseniors@gmail.com, and we will mail you a set of tickets!  If you’re just interested in supporting the Senior Center with a donation, please visit our Donate and Support page where you can give a gift via PayPal.  Thank you for your support!

 

 

Concentrate’s On The Ground Ypsilanti interviewed Monica Prince regarding the meals and activities the center is running through COVID-19.  Read the full piece here!

 

 

Learn to make new, tasty recipes via virtual cooking classes offered through the Ypsilanti Senior Center!  Join Chef Jeff as he creates easy-to-make dishes you can try in your own home.  Set up your phone or laptop in the kitchen, and start cooking!

This month’s recipe was Michigan Cherry Chili.  Download the recipe here, and watch Chef Jeff’s YouTube video to learn how to put it together!

The Ypsilanti Senior Center sat down with WEMU to talk about the Senior Center’s “We Care Connect” Memory Cafe in April 2019.  We Care Connect is a safe and judgment free environment that provides as a respite from the constant emotional turmoil brought on by dementia. This opportunity is provided to caregivers and persons living with memory loss to engage in social conversation, creative and entertaining activities, and develop friendships for mutual support.

Read the Concentrate piece on it on https://www.secondwavemedia.com/concentrate/features/memorycafe0499.aspx and listen to the full interview on https://www.wemu.org/post/otgypsi-memory-cafes-maintain-social-skills-local-seniors.