Generations
MAY 1, 2020 | Monthly News & Updates
COUNCIL ON AGING NEWS
Older Americans Month 2020: Make Your Mark
Around the nation, older adults make their marks every day as volunteers, employees, employers, parents, grandparents, mentors, and advocates. They offer their time, talents, and experience to the benefit of our communities.
For 57 years, Older Americans Month (OAM) has been a special time to recognize these contributions. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) each May, OAM also provides resources to help older Americans stay healthy and independent, and materials to help communities support and celebrate their citizens.
This year’s OAM theme, Make Your Mark , highlights older adults’ unique and lasting contributions to their communities—everything from sharing a story with grandchildren to leaving a legacy of community action. In the spirit of this theme, here are a few ways to make your mark this May and all year long: Volunteer your time, Share your story and Get Involved in your neighborhood.
Welcome Dr. Rafael Martinez
Please help us in welcoming Dr. Rafael Martinez to the Osceola Council on Aging’s Health Clinic.
Dr. Rafael Martinez, MD is bi-lingual family medicine specialist in Kissimmee, FL. He specializes in family medicine and general medical practice. His Care Philosophy is he considers all his patients family and he treats them as such.
Barney E. Veal Event Center Booking 2021
Looking to book a Wedding, Sweet Sixteen, Baby Shower, Birthday, Special Events, Corporate Events, etc... Look no further the Barney E. Veal Event Center has opened its 2021 calendar for bookings! Contact us for availability. Book your next event at a great price!

Feed Osceola - $22,819 Raised to Date!
A big Thank You to Chris May and Kent Custom Homes of Saint Cloud for getting together to help our neighbors in need! We are so thankful for this initiative that not only will benefit our recipients of food pantry but also our farmers in Osceola County. Kent Custom Homes of Saint Cloud has generously offered to match (up to $10,000) each donation made to Osceola Council on Aging.

Meals For Moms
 Your mother cooked 19,710 meals, washed 6,570 loads of laundry and kissed 542 boo-boos while you were growing up. For most Americans, Mother's Day is a joyful occasion. But for millions of older Americans, this holiday will be no celebration. Tonight, millions of elderly, including our mothers will go to bed hungry. Help us let them know they are cared for. A whole new way to say "I Love You" to someone who needs to hear it with a hot nutritious meal.

COVID 19 UPDATE
As we navigate the ever changing circumstances created by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to keep you up to date on what we are doing to continue to serve our community, offer helpful information on how to protect yourself and what you can do to help.

A shelter in place order is now in effect for Osceola Counties but as an essential service provider we want to assure you that our programs and services continue operate while following CDC guidelines.

With our  Senior Dining  temporarily closed, we have mobilized meal delivery to the homes of each of these clients. This represents deliveries to an additional 100 clients.

Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, deliveries continue to the 300-350 home bound clients we serve through our  Meals on Wheels program . We have also instituted preventative measures to minimize contact and ensure the safety and health of both the volunteers and clients.

In-Home Services, Case Management, Guardianship, Building Strong Families Department and Clinic  remain operational serving their clients.

Office Hours:  Our offices remain closed to the public and rotating minimal staff. We are not accepting appointments at this time but are still accepting donations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
We are so fortunate to have had so many of you reach out to us asking how you can help and what you can do to ensure our community is well cared for. As an essential business we provide meals and other services to members of community in need.Your donations are more critical now than ever to ensure they continue to receive these services during this unprecedented time.

Our greatest need is contributions, both monetary and grocery items, to our community food pantry, as we are seeing a large increase in the number of visitors to the pantry. Leveraging your monetary donations allows us to stretch your dollars to serve even more individuals.

Thank you!

Getting food to people is our chief concern right now. The need is great and we are doing all we can to keep our pantry fully stocked but we need your help!
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Save More at the Store

The smartest shoppers know that saving money is more than luck. When shopping for groceries, it’s about having a game plan and making smart decisions about what to put in your cart.
 
  1. Ask for advice. Grocery stores, ethnic markets, dollar stores, retail supercenters, and wholesale clubs can offer good deals. Ask friends and family where they shop and find their best bargains!
  2. Eat before you shop. Grocery shopping hungry can lead to impulse buying and unhealthy food choices.
  3. Read the sales flyer. Sales flyers are usually released mid-week and can be found at the store’s entrance, in the newspaper, or on their website.
  4. Use coupons – but only for items that you know you’ll use. If you don’t need an item right away, save the coupon and see if it goes on sale. For more on couponing, check out Save More at the Grocery Store.
  5. Look up and down for savings. Stores often stock the priciest items at eye level. You can save big by looking at the upper and lower shelves too.
  6. Check for store brands. Most stores offer their own brand of products that often cost less than name brands.
  7. Grab from the back. Stores typically stock shelves from back to front, placing the newest items behind the older ones. Reach in the back for the freshest items especially in the produce, dairy, and meat aisles.
  8. Ask for a rain check. If a sale item has run out, ask the store for a rain check. This allows you to pay the sale price after the item is restocked.
  9. Join your store’s loyalty program. Most stores offer a free loyalty program. Get special offers and discounts that non-members do not.
  10. Think outside the store. Farmers markets and farm stands can be great options for picking up fresh produce at a discount. Check the National Farmers Market Directory for locations near you.


In accordance with Federal Law and US Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis or race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all program.) to file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 or 202-720-6382 (TTY) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Should You Wash All Food?

Should you wash raw chicken? What about avocados?
Washing is one of the primary ways to reduce risk of food poisoning. From hands to kitchen counters, it is important to wash properly to stop the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses. However, when it comes to food, the rules of washing are not as clear. There are some foods that should always be washed, and others that should be kept far away from the sink.

Always Wash
□ Fruits and Vegetables with Edible Peels:  Wash all produce, no matter whether it is organic or conventionally grown, with cool tap water immediately before eating or using in a recipe. Skip the soap because the porous surfaces on fresh produce can absorb the ingredients in soap. Dry with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce the harmful bacteria that may be... READ MORE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
WALL OF DONORS
Thank you to all of our donors. We are not able to get a photo of every donor but we thank you all the same.
MAY'S NEWSLETTER SPONSORED BY
Osceola Council On Aging | www.osceolageneration.org

Solicitation of Funds The Osceola Council on Aging, Inc. #SC00067 has complied with the registration requirements of Chapter 496, F. S., Solicitation of Contributions Act. "A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE." 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com