LOA News

& Notes

Helping Older Persons Remain Independent for as Long as Possible.

LOA selected for a 2023 AARP

Community Challenge Grant

The Local Office on Aging has been awarded a $20,000 AARP Community Challenge Grant in support of the creation of an Outdoor Fitness Area at LOA’s Center for Health and Wellness, tailored to the needs of the older population. LOA is one of only 310 grantees for 2023, selected out of 3,600+ applications from across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“The Outdoor Fitness Area will be an accessible space for all ages and further LOA’s passionate initiatives of improving personal health and wellness for our area’s seniors,” said Ron Boyd, President and CEO of LOA. “We are incredibly proud and humbled that AARP selected LOA for this investment. AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable and we are honored that they see the value this project will bring.”

The Outdoor Fitness area will have full coverage including covered seating and picnic areas. The equipment, designed to meet the needs of older persons but accessible to everyone, will include an assisted step trainer, skill trainer, assisted functional trainer, step around station, and assisted balance walk to help users improve balance, fine motor strength, flexibility, and range of motion. The area will be fitted with appropriate ground covering and include the installation of a paved walking track.

The project also promotes social benefits by offering a communal space for adults to meet and socialize with others.

“The area will be an excellent asset for older adults to live longer, fuller lives by maintaining their independence,” added Boyd.

In September 2022, LOA opened the doors of its Center for Health and Wellness to provide improved education and training in the areas of nutrition, socialization, wellness, and healthy aging which supports LOA’s overall mission of helping older persons remain independent for as long as possible. Phase I of LOA's Center for Health and Wellness included retrofitting the building to meet the specific needs of a senior health and wellness center including providing ample space for LOA's nutrition offices, a congregate meals site, a Meals on Wheels site, Senior Food Boxes and under the leadership of a Community Health Worker to provide educational outreach including health fairs, lunch and learns, vaccination clinics and falls prevention.

Installation of the Outdoor Fitness Center equipment is expected to begin in July 2023 at LOA’s Center for Health and Wellness, located at 4902 Frontage Road, NW, in Roanoke. A grand opening and official ribbon cutting is planned for Spring, 2024.

Let's Give Lunch - June 16

Thank you to everyone who helped make LOA’s 32nd annual Let’s Give Lunch fundraiser a success! Volunteers from across the community joined LOA staff during the week of June 12-16, to assemble and distribute the boxed lunches. On Friday, June 16, we sold 1,750 lunches which will fund 3,500 nutritious Meals on Wheels! We are so grateful to everyone who bought a lunch, volunteered, or gave an additional gift.

Special thanks go to our sponsors of this event:

AccessU,
Southern Team Auto Mall, and
WDBJ-7 and WZBJ-24

Stay tuned for our announcement in early July of the winners of the Meals on Wheels raffle!

LOA introduces Farm Market Fresh Program

LOA is launching a new program called Farm Market Fresh (Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program) to help low- to moderate- income seniors access fresh, local produce for FREE. Eligible seniors can receive $50 worth of checks to spend at participating farmers’ markets this summer. Not only does this program provide healthy food for seniors in need, but it also supports local farmers in Virginia.

Seniors: come to the following event to enroll or get more information:

Tuesday, July 11, 3-6 p.m. at the West End Farmer's Market
Friday, July 21, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Botetourt County Sheriff's Office Senior Social at Fincastle Baptist Church

Qualified applicants will receive their vouchers right then and there, and a list of participating farmers’ markets. Call LOA at (540) 345-0451 if you have any questions. Let's get fresh produce into the hands of seniors who need it!

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Grants update

Thank you to everyone who made a gift to LOA recently. Your financial support helps keep our programs going. Last month the LOA was excited to be awarded the following grants:

Feed Lion Feeds grant of $2,700 to support Meals on Wheels

We are also excited to announce a $2,000 donation from Vinton Roofing to LOA's Meals on Wheels program!

Gainesboro YMCA

108 Orange Ave

Roanoke, VA 24016

(540) 344-9622

August 9, 2023-

October 25, 2023

Monday and Wednesday

LOA is excited to offer a FREE and fun twice weekly exercise program starting August 9! Bingocize® combines exercise and health information with the familiar game of bingo, which is a great, fun way for seniors to get moving and socializing. Bingocize® is a 10-week, evidence-based health program approved through both SNAP-Ed and The National Council on Aging (NCOA).

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Local Office on Aging, Inc.

4932 Frontage Road

PO Box 14205

Roanoke, VA 24038

Roanoke ................... 540-345-0451

Alleghany Highlands 540-962-0465

Botetourt Co. ........... 540-580-5085

Craig County ............ 540-864-6031

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