We started off the new year rather tentatively.  With the rise of another Covid variant we are all uncertain how to stay safe.  Be sure you get your vaccines and booster for the virus, wear masks whenever you are in public and continue to wash your hands.  The Center requires everyone to wear a mask indoors unless you are sitting at a table eating.  The County has supplied us with KN95 masks that are available for anyone to pick up.  Everyone can order free at-home covid test kits from www.covidtests.gov.  It is super easy.  It only requires your name and address and your test kits will be shipped to your door.  Another source for ordering tests is https://accesscpvodtests.org.  If you need help ordering, you can stop by the center and ask someone here to help you fill out the form online.

The AAA1b (Area Aging on Aging 1b) has asked us to develop a pilot program that would help Grandparents raising grandchildren get some respite.  Raising grandchildren is not an easy job even though it is very rewarding.  This pilot program will help find and pay for the activities for the grandchildren so the grandparents can have some time for themselves. If you know of anyone that could benefit from this program please call and give us their contact information.

EMU has received a grant to start a program called “Lori’s Hands”.  It is available for anyone with a chronic illness.  Students from EMU will be available to visit on a weekly basis to provide some help around the house or companionship.  There is a flyer that explains how it works.  If you are interested in the program or know of someone that is please call the Senior center and leave your name and phone number so we can register you for the program.

— Monica Prince

This December the Center will celebrate our 60th anniversary!  We will have an in-person gathering next summer to celebrate, but we will celebrate now as well. We have decided to provide our members with a “Celebration in a Bag” on Monday, December 6.  We are putting together 50 bags with many surprises and treats. We will also have some items that we will raffle off at the end of that day. Right now we have a floral centerpiece, a free massage, a gift basket and a couple of larger gift certificates. For details on the celebration, see this flyer.

The center will be closed for the holidays December 18 through January 2.

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!

NEW DATE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

As the president of the Senior Center’s Board of Directors, I am pleased to invite each of you to our strategic planning meeting on Saturday, September 25 from 10am until 1pm. Your voices are the most important to hear as we gather together to discuss what we want the future of the Senior Center to look like. The only thing you need to bring are yourselves and your ideas about what you like most (and least) about the Center as it is now and the sorts of things you would like to see in the future. If you are not able to attend but would like to send along your ideas please email Monica at ypsiseniors@sbcglobal.net or myself at sheria.robinson@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

— Sheria Robinson-Lane

I cannot believe that September is upon us.  The fall brings worries about the renewed spread of the coronavirus.  Please be safe.  My son’s girlfriend, fully vaccinated, has tested positive for the virus.  Her symptoms are not as bad as if she were not vaccinated.  Just a warning of what could happen.   We are continuing to ask for contact information and temps as you enter the building. Please wear a mask at all times that you are in the building unless you are seated at a table and eating.  We hope that this will keep everyone safe while we restart activities.   This weekend the county risk factor went up.  If it were to go up further we will need  to stop the congregate lunches and possibly shut down in person activities again.  We will try our best to contact you if this is happening.

This December the center will celebrate our 60th anniversary.  We will have an in-person gathering next summer to celebrate.  We want to do something to celebrate.  I would like help to plan the event.  Please let me know if you can help out.

The center is working on a partnership with Olli.  This will give us an opportunity to view fabulous lectures that are offered by the group.  There will be more to come in the coming weeks.

The board meets every first Wednesday in the month at the center at 6:30pm.  It is an open meeting with time at the beginning for public comment.  Feel free to join us.  I try to publish the agenda ahead of time on the website.

— Monica Prince

Job Opening – May 2021
Part-time Administrative Assistant at the Ypsilanti Senior Center, 1015 N Congress.

This position reports to the Center Director and oversees front desk receptionist, supervises the senior nutrition program lunches, supervises volunteers, assists with program planning and other administrative and clerical duties. 15 hours/week, generally Monday – Friday with occasional evening and weekends. SALARY: $15.51/hour

Requirements: High School graduate or GED equivalent. Must be self-motivated, professional, independent and have significant experience working with the older adults. Excellent communication, interpersonal and basic computer skills are essential. Food service experience desirable. Must be willing to obtain a ServSafe Certification.

Here are links to the full position description and application. Resumes and applications can be dropped off at the Ypsilanti Senior Center.

As summer approaches, we are getting ready to open to some activities.  The COVID climate is changing constantly just like Michigan weather.  May will bring back small groups that can be safely held inside or outside on the patio. We were able to purchase some new patio tables so we can spend time outside. We will need to follow new procedures to keep everyone safe.  The limit to activities for May will be 12.

As you come into the building, you will need to stop at the front desk, answer questions about possible exposure to COVID and have your temperature taken. On leaving you will need to check out at the front desk also.  Masks will be required at all times except when eating lunch at tables.  No other food will be allowed.  We will not serve coffee at this time.

May is Older Americans Month.  Let’s celebrate on Friday May 28.  All the plans are not set yet but we are planning to have outdoor activities and giveaways. Some activities will be learning how to play shuffleboard and bocce.  Watch for a flyer to be out soon.

We will be offering the following in person activities starting the week of May 3rd unless stated otherwise.

• Mondays:
  • Frozen Food Pick Up from 11:00-2:00
• Tuesdays:
  • Knitting 12:30-2:00
• Wednesdays:
  • Art 10:00-11:30
  • Hot Lunch 11:45 starting June 2nd
  • Bingo 12:30-1:45
• Thursdays:
  • Acupuncture with Ron Hough,  9:30-11:30. Call Ron to schedule your appointment at (517) 303-6317.
• Fridays:
  • Norwegian Therapeutic Massage with Sissel Bridges, 10:00-2:00.  Call Sissel at (734) 340-3766 to schedule your massage.
  • Gentle Fitness 10:30-11:30

We ask that you wear a mask and social distance.  We will have a sign up sheet for each of our activities: Knitting, Art, Bingo and Gentle Fitness and ask that you sign up ahead of time by calling the center.

Space is limited for each activity.  We will also have you sign in as you enter the center so we can monitor for contact tracing.

Help a local restaurant and the Senior Center during the pandemic, plus enjoy an amazing meal!

On Thursday, December 3, Aubree’s Pizzeria & Grill in Depot Town has generously agreed to donate 20% of your total bill for delivery and takeout (and dine-in, COVID-restrictions permitting) to the Ypsilanti Senior Center.  Please print and provide a copy of this flyer – donations won’t be counted unless it’s provided!  Please also note that this is limited to the Aubree’s at 39 E. Cross Street (Depot Town) in Ypsilanti and that other Aubree’s are not participating on this day.

Many thanks to Aubree’s in Depot Town for their support of the Senior Center’s important programming and services!  And many thanks to YOU for Dining to Donate!

Senior Center – Aubrees Dine to Donate

An original podcast featuring conversation and stories between one of our cultures most under-utilized natural resources…our elders, and our culture’s juniors, those in search of their own chairs, young folks whose own stories are just beginning!  This intergenerational conversation is part of the activities of the Ypsilanti Senior Center.

Limelight, LLC, a Michigan-based theatre consulting company founded by Jessica “Decky” Alexander, will be releasing the first episode of a new podcast entitled, Homebound: A Dialogue for the Ages on November 9, 2020. The podcast, a collaboration between Limelight, the Ypsilanti Senior Center through its Intergenerational Partnership and Generations United, features conversation and stories shared between our culture’s elders and youth. Homebound: A Dialogue for the Ages will be available for streaming on a variety of platforms with new episodes released every Monday. A teaser for the first episode can be heard here.

In the new reality of COVID 19, older adults are more than likely confined to single space,
housebound, less able to socialize or move with ease (and without fear of infection) throughout
the community or neighborhood. Young adults have begun to experience similar isolation, many
of them for the first time. With Homebound , Limelight celebrates the impact of intergenerational
interaction as members of both generations confront the “new normal” together in conversation,
seek solutions through sharing their stories, and sometimes find common ground.

New episodes of Homebound will be available every Monday starting November 9, and can be
streamed from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Stitcher among
other streaming services. More information can be found on the Limelight website,
www.limelightlive.org/homebound. Homebound is mixed and produced by Eric Minni,
conceptualized and directed by Decky Alexander, and supported by the production team Tyler
Calhoun and Catherine Coffey-Burns.

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. 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.