What's Happening at Whitney

Whitney Staff is working diligently on plans for re-opening the center in phases and we will keep members informed of actual opening dates once they are confirmed.

At this time the Whitney Senior Center is still closed, but we are still here to help you. Your safety is our upmost importance. We will continue to keep you updated through the weekly e-newsletter.

Please take advantage of the Senior Friendship Circles and the many opportunities to connect with us virtually. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to call. We are staffed Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30.

Senior Friendship Circle Leader–

Senior Friendship Circle volunteers are greatly needed to lead a small group by initiating a weekly phone chat! RSVP is currently organizing small groups of 3-4 individuals, in the Greater St. Cloud Area to gather via phone conference calling for weekly visits. The volunteer will schedule and initiate weekly phone visits with their group using their own phone conference calling feature (conference calling can be done through land-lines or smart phones - instructions provided). Volunteers may lead conversations related to the interest of the group, discuss current events, have a movie or book discussion, or simply check in to say hello. Seeking volunteers with an interest in meeting weekly with a small group of seniors to cultivate friendships and stimulate conversations.

We are still collecting masks. We are also distributing the masks - one per person. If you are in need of a mask, please give us a call.

If you are looking for a way to put your time and talents to good use we are looking for community members willing to make and donate cloth masks for at risk community members. In partnership with other Human Service organizations we are asking you to consider helping with this important task. The link below from the CDC indicates how masks are used and beneficial. It also shows a number of patterns for making masks. Completed masks can be dropped off at Whitney Senior Center West Door (1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud) in the covered bin marked MASKS. The bin will be available Monday-Friday 8-4:30p.m. Please give us a call if you are willing to help with this project. We can be reached at 320-255-7245.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

Senior Dining Frozen Meal Distribution Monday-Wednesday 11:00 am -12:30pm

Wonderful frozen meals are available for curbside pick-up from 11a.m.-12:30p.m. each Monday-Wednesday from the East Wing Parking lot of Whitney Senior Center. These nutritious meals are prepared by Catholic Charities and made available each week. To register and/or reserve meals call 320-229-4584.

Tips for Adding Fruits & Vegetables to Your Daily Meals

Start with a fresh salad at least once a day. For convenience, add pre-cut, packaged salad ingredients or fresh, frozen, or canned fruit slices and/or vegetables.
Beans can be an affordable source of fiber and protein. Buy them canned to save cooking time. Rinse to remove sodium.
Use a small baked potato with low-fat cheese for a quick and easy meal.
Cook and serve vegetables steamed, lightly stir-fried, or raw.
Add vegetables to soups, stews, and casseroles.
Choose cut-up vegetables as a daily snack, such as packages of baby carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower.
Eat yogurt or cottage cheese topped with fresh fruit.
Bake or broil apples, pears, or bananas with cinnamon and nutmeg or top with yogurt. This makes a sweet treat for dessert.
Add fruit slices to cereal and salads.
Try using fresh or unsweetened canned fruits for desserts and snacks.
Keep fresh whole fruits in a bowl on the table for quick snacks.
Blend fresh, frozen, or canned fruit with milk for a fruit shake.
Grind or chop fruits and vegetables in a blender or processor to make them easier to chew.
Stock up on low-sodium frozen or canned fruits and vegetables on sale. Compare the labels to pick those without added sugars.
Eat colorful fruits and vegetables to get a variety of flavors and nutrients.
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season or frozen vegetables in bags to save money. Canned fruits and vegetables can be a good option too if you compare labels and pick foods with the lowest sodium and sugar.

Click on link to download pdf

Fun with Short Stories III

Bill Vossler leads the discussion of a hilarious story by O. Henry, The Ransom of Red Chief, where two men looking for ransom money find the tables turned and realize how difficult it is to deal with a brat. It is available online at https://dwcaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Henry_Red_Chief.pdf

The second story is Ray Bradbury’s The Dragon, which questions the distance between the present and the past, and will be discussed as well. It can be found at http://crhszajac.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/9/1/25910764/dragon.pdf or will be shown on the screen to be read aloud during the presentation. Very short short story.

Bill welcomes all kinds of comments on the short stories. Be prepared to have fun!

Tuesday, July 21st
9:30 AM to 10:45 AM
Join at this L INK

Click for website

Health Care Directive

Tuesday, July 21st
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Join at this LINK

Have you put off filling out your Health Care Directive? In light of our current COVID-19 pandemic, now it the perfect time to complete your Health Care Directive and LighttheLegacy is here to help! Learn what a Health Care Directive is, what to consider in the event a medical crisis happens and you can no longer speak for yourself. What are your medical wishes? Who would speak on your behalf? Join LighttheLegacy every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month from 11:00 - 12:00 pm to get more information, ask questions and help in filling out this important document.

Watch the video at this Link

TED Circle Discussion -

" What obligation do social media platforms have to the greater good? Eli Pariser "

Social media has become our new home. Can we build it better? Taking design cues from urban planners and social scientists, technologist Eli Pariser shows how the problems we're encountering on digital platforms aren't all that new -- and shares how, by following the model of thriving towns and cities, we can create trustworthy online communities.

Tuesday, July 21st
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Join at this LINK

Great River Regional Library

Join us with Jade from the Great River Regional Library this Wednesday, July 22nd. Topics will be around technology and apps on your phone to track physical activity and more.

Wednesday, July 22nd
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Joinn at this LINK

"What is Democracy "

Join Dr. Aric Putnam, Professor of Communication, CSB/SJU with this discussion:

Americans celebrate democracy every Fourth of July, but how often do we think about what democracy has meant and can mean? In this session we will explore the early foundation of democracy in ancient Greece. The 20^th century altered what democracy could mean, and to understand that new context we will take a look at the philosophy of John Dewey. We will then discuss what it means to practice democracy in our current environment.

Thursday, July 23rd
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Join at this LINK

Wellness Friday Series

Join us with Rejuv Medical each Friday

This week: Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can also be an embarrassing problem. As with many potentially embarrassing or uncomfortable symptoms, those affected may be hesitant to speak up or ask questions about their condition.
Urinary incontinence occurs more often in women than in men, and it is a lot more common than you might expect. In fact, chances are that you know other people who have been affected by urinary incontinence.
The fact is that this common condition is treatable by a variety of approaches, and not speaking up about the problem means that you won’t have access to effective treatments.
Learn about some tips and treatments to help you out.

Friday, July 24th
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Join at this LINK

Click Here to Register for this class

Diabetes Prevention Program - Register Now

August 10, 2020 - December 07, 2020

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Online
Offered through the Whitney Senior Center

Cost: Donation/ Cost Share

Class Leader: Kristen Scheskie

Contact Phone: 320-255-7265

National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) is a collaborative, community-based, lifestyle change program designed for people with pre-diabetes. It is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s curriculum and National Diabetes Prevention Recognition standards. Hundreds of in-person and online lifestyle change programs nationwide teach participants to make lasting lifestyle changes, like eating healthier, adding physical activity into their daily routine, and improving coping skills.

Notes:

This class will be held via virtual Zoom and may be offered In-Person at the Whitney Senior Center depending on current situation with COVID-19. If participating through Zoom Please note the following: All participants must have audio and visual technology capabilities. This could be a laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone, or a smart phone. Details will be emailed to participants once they have registered for this workshop series and prior to the class start date. The Whitney Senior Center will contact participants to practice using Zoom and have support for technology challenges prior to the start of the start date.

Senior Citizens Cyber Safety Workshop

Join one of our patron's grandson for this Eagle Project:

The two workshops (each 2.5 hours) will be conducted by the Plano, TX CyberPatriots team (they are also all Boy Scouts in Troop 25) who finished 1^st in the state of Texas in the 2018 CyberPatriot competition. The boys will be joined by two of the adult coaches.

How to browse the web safely;
How to protect their personal information
How to prevent identity theft
How to create STRONG passwords
How to recognize and avoid computer viruses, internet and phone scams
How to utilize social media sites safely

Attendees will Learn:

The champion for this workshop series is Bryan Chew, an Eagle Scout candidate in Plano’s Troop 25 and a member of CyberPatriots, a nationally recognized, youth-based organization designed to teach youth about cyber security. Bryan will be joined by his CyberPatriot coaches and teammates who, together, came in 1st place in the State of Texas during the 2018 Cyber Patriot’s competition! They will provide you with information you need to have confidence to secure the technology you use every day. The material to be presented was professionally developed by the U.S. Air Force Association and AT&T and is specifically designed for Adults 50+. Register now to learn and have fun, and then be sure to mark your calendars! Your attendance via Zoom is important!

July 27, 2020 and July 28, 2020
Each Mon 10am to 12:30pm
Each Tue 10am to 12:30pm

6 spots remaining

Register

Overeaters Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous is a community of people who support each other in order to recover from compulsive eating and food behaviors.

New Members are welcome!

Saturdays
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Join at this LINK

Books coming up....

August 4th - The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

September 1st - The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

Connect with others through the Friendship Circle

Friendship Circles- still time to sign up!

If you or a loved one does not have the technology to stay connected, RSVP is providing a new option to stay socially connected. See the article below:

https://wjon.com/rsvp-to-launch-new-weekly-phone-conference-program/

With most volunteer organizations not able to provide the same level of services, many groups are finding creative ways to keep their volunteers engaged.

RSVP is starting up a new program to help promote new friendships among older adults.

An RSVP volunteer leader will start a phone call conversation with two other older adults and provide that social interaction. So we are hoping those friendships and relationships will develop over time for a weekly phone call.

The Senior Friendship Circle is an at home social option for individuals over age 60 that reside in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne Counties.

Friendship Circles will connect two or more times per week, depending on the interest of the group.

RSVP will is taking registration with hopes of beginning the program by late June.

To register or if you would like to become an RSVP volunteer, you're asked to call the Whitney Senior Center Aging Services office (320) 255-7245.

If you have SilverSneakers or Silver&Fit - please click on LINK for June's attendance.

This helps support the costs to provide the classes and continue them. If you would like to register with us for the SilverSneakers and Silver & Fit - please call our Front Desk at 320-255-7245.

If you are new to our WSC Fitness Classes and/or have not filled out your 2020 Fitness Waiver, please fill out at this LINK and submit.

Senior Yoga with Melissa
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. 10 am to 10:45 am
JOIN AT THIS LINK

Gentle Pilates with Paula
Mondays and Fridays 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
JOIN AT THIS LINK

SAIL - Stay Active and Independent for Life
Tuesday, Fridays, Saturdays 11 am to 12:00 pm
JOIN AT THIS LINK

Spring Forest QI- GONG with Jerry Wellik
Mondays and Wednesdays 12:00 pm to 12:55 pm
Register in Advance at this LINK

Yoga with Sally
Tuesdays at 9:30 am - 10:30 am at this LINK
Thursdays at 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at this LINK

Resources:

The Minnesota Warmline
Need to talk? Someone is there to listen.
Open Monday-Saturday, 5 PM to 10 PM

651.288.0400

Toll Free 877.404.3190
or text “Support” to 85511

The Minnesota Warmline provides a peer-to-peer approach to mental health recovery, support and wellness. Calls are answered by our team of professionally trained Certified Peer Specialists, who have first hand experience living with a mental health condition.
The Warmline provides a safe, anonymous and confidential environment to connect with people who are here to listen…here to help.

Helping Minnesota’s Older Adults during COVID-19
Refer to MDH for COVID-19 Information in Minnesota

To protect the public's health and slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19, please follow the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for the state’s most up-to-date guidelines and information: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html .

Call the Senior LinkAge Line Available at 1-800-333-2433
The Senior LinkAge Line will continue to be a resource for older adults and their families to call during this emergency situation. We can help people find resources and make connections with alternative services, if someone’s provider or support network has changed or temporarily stopped providing services. The Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA), Minnesota’s Area Agencies on Aging and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) are working closely together to share information and ensure that all parts of the state have the resources they need to support older Minnesotans and caregivers.

Help for Older Adults
If you are on Elderly Waiver, Alternative Care or Essential Community Supports, contact your case manager/care coordinator to discuss your needs. If you are not on one of these programs call the Senior LinkAge Line for help finding resources in your community including:

Home-delivered meals
Grocery or prescription drug delivery
Help in your home
Transportation
Caregiver consultants and respite services

Need help with technology?
Ask our Computer Lab Volunteers

With our Computer Lab not having access and with the current events of COVID-19 and relying on technology, the volunteers have graciously offered to take questions and try to answer them for you. Send them an EMAIL

Donations Accepted

A few of you have asked, so we thought we would include. If you find value in the programs being offered and would like to make a donation during this time to help support the Whitney Senior Center, you can mail a check to: Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN 56303. We miss seeing you! Thank you to the kindness of those sending cards and donations -- it is greatly appreciated by the WSC Staff!

Find our events and links on our Website.

You can also find these events on our Website Calendar.If you want to receive Calendar Reminders of Upcoming Events outside of this emailed newsletter you can subscribe to the icalendar.