By Drew Johnson
Earlier this month we got the news that the Vicksburg Foundation approved our grant request for operating the Senior Center for the next three years! This is in addition to a smaller amount of funding from the senior millage, also over the next three years. This funding will allow us to maintain and add to the programming that we have been building over the past year, while building for the future: lots of work goes into the paperwork and meetings that must happen for the programming that comes out the other end.
Some recent changes to our usual schedule include adding the South County Stitchers on Thursdays from 1:30-4:30 p.m. This is a grassroots-led group led by Tanya DeLong, who used to own and run The Girl Garage. As we grow, we want to be a meeting place for groups like this—let us know if you have an idea or a group that wants to meet!
We are also very excited to be planning a big Lunch and Learn for April 10, noon to 2 p.m. – A Toast to Healthy Hearts: A Tasting, Talking, Moving, and Fun Experience for All. Members of the SCSC Advisory Committee have been working hard to create a fun and delicious program for any senior who wants to learn more about heart health as they age. We will have four local health care providers who will each discuss a heart healthy related topic, such as Sitting Disease, How To Talk to Doctors, and the New Normal. Registration is limited, so give Sherri a call at 720-0974 to reserve your spot today!
Funding from the Vicksburg Foundation will allow us to add some other new things too—over the next few months, look out for a lot more programming partnerships with Vicksburg Arts! They will be creating new programming that ranges from classes that are intended to build skills, like watercolor painting, to one-off classes like Intro to Junk Journals. We hope to offer classes with Vicksburg Arts 1-2 times per month. We also plan to bring in another weekly wellness class to add to FUNctional Fitness and Cardio Drumming.
There is a lot going on at South County Senior Center these days! It has been fun to watch the space at Vicksburg United Methodist get used and we are very appreciative of their partnership in providing this programming. Truth be told, the more people involved the better! If you are interested in joining us or have an idea for a program, let us know! You can always see an updated schedule at www.southcountycs.com/south-county-senior-center. We hope to see you soon!
Drew Johnson lives in Kalamazoo and is the Director at South County Community Services. He has a small quarter acre homestead with chickens, bees, and hops (and more!), a wonderful wife, and three energetic children. He can be reached at 649-2901 or ajohnson@southcountycs.com
For more information on South County Community Services, please check out our Facebook at facebook.com/southcountycs or our website at southcountycs.com.
