The Kanasas City Star contacted us recently about one of the many ways we help older adults and lifelong learners.

Our very own Marty Hatten was featured in the story they covered:

Marty Hatten, 78, is looking forward to firing up her first computer, purchased by her children as a Christmas gift.

She uses computers in her part-time job at the Waldo library. But to learn the bells and whistles, she enrolled in a course for older residents sponsored by Shepherd’s Center of Kansas City.

The course pairs seniors with students at St. Teresa’s Academy. Weekly sessions have helped Hatten get to know electronic spreadsheets and strike a warm friendship with her tutor, Chelsea Birchmier, 18.

“I enjoy her a lot as a person,” Hatten said of Birchmier.

Early in the training, Hatten expressed a love for the novel “Rebecca,” by Daphne du Maurier. When Birchmier gave her the gift of an author-signed first edition, “tears came to my eyes,” Hatten said.

The teen tutor found the book online.

Thanks, Kansas City Star, for helping the entire community understand more about what we do at Shepherd’s Center Central!

The story is called: The unplugged life: Meet the neo-Luddites among us. Scroll down to see the part that features Marty.  Read more here.

We especially need additional volunteers for our Meals on Wheels program. In less than a 2-hour commitment, you can deliver meals once a week or once a month in the Brookside, Waldo, or Plaza area. To volunteer, call Deb today at  816-444-1121.

Blogger Janet W. Watson, part of the talent team at Shepherd’s Center Central, shares behind-the-scenes details for anyone considering volunteering for our Meals on Wheels program:

Progam Objective: To deliver nutritious hot and cold meals to our home bound residents Monday through Friday.  Residents are located in the Waldo, Plaza and Brookside area, which includes 46^th Street to 48^th Street from State Line to Troost Avenue.

Intended Outcome: The program “Meals on Wheels” has many benefits: one is that you meet other road warriors delivering meals, see our clients smiling faces, and know that your contribution results in our clients enjoying a healthy hot meal.

Once you volunteer to be a driver, here’s what happens next:

1. Training – Accept or ask for training from a “Meals on Wheels” veteran.  A veteran offers valuable insight to delivering meals to our clients.  They will help you to prepare for your deliveries by sharing information about what to expect, restrictions to be aware of, and safety measures for you and our clients.
2. Sign In – All volunteers are required to sign in.  This confirms your participation and your hours matter to us!
3. Map It – Use or ask for a city map.  You may be very knowledgeable about the area, but some of our clients live on side or unfamiliar streets.  We’re here to help, but having your own city map will prevent less driving around trying to find a residence and can be used as a backup, when needed.
4. Insulated Bags – The center will provide insulated bags.  These bags allow you to organize your deliveries and carry all meals to your car.  The center is working on sponsors to donate cold and hot bags.
5. Bring some extra plastic bags – Carry grocery plastic bags (Price Chopper, Walmart and etc).  Some of our clients are unable to carry their meals with both hands because of walkers or canes.  The plastic bag allows them to use handles, to be independent when greeting you at the door and in some instances there is more than one meal delivered to a residence.  A plastic bag will make it easier on you and our clients.
6. Front door delivery – Deliver from front door only, which prevents you from going inside the client’s home. If at all possible, hand over meals from the front door only.  Our clients will greet you at the door in majority of all deliveries. Most important, a smile is worth millions or to just make their day! Remember some clients have limited visitors and you may be the only person they will interact with all week.
7. Time Management –   The center asks that volunteers arrive around 10:30 a.m. and prepare to leave before 11:00 a.m.  and that all deliveries are completed by Noon.  Preparing for your route and delivery time is no more than 45 minutes -  unless you would like to have coffee and snacks to catch up on the latest happenings before you begin your route. Enjoy time with your fellow drivers when you can. But remember other smiling faces are waiting on their meals.

8. Attire –   As a volunteer for meal on wheels you are getting in and out of your car.  Be prepared to make 5-8 stops for your deliveries and it is important you can move freely without restrictions.  Some of our clients have steps, driveways, or uneven walkways, so it is important to be extremely careful when making your delivery.  Wear clean, comfortable clothes and shoes.  It is important that your attire is presentable because remember our clients are opening their doors to someone they may not know, yet.   Ask yourself, would you open the door to someone that is dressed like you? Remember to think about our clients and that you are representing Shepherd’s Center.

9. Let us know if there is no answer at the door – If the client is not home or does not answer call the number on your assigned delivery sheet.  Sometimes it takes our clients a little longer to hear or answer the door.  Be patient.   After trying the telephone phone number and still no answer, contact the main office so someone can follow up to ensure the client is okay.  Usually they just forgot to call the office about an appointment on that day.  No worries, the center ask that you return the meal to the office.   This allows accountability for the client and the center.
10. Remember that fees, tips, and tokens from clients are never acceptable.  Volunteers provide this service because we care and not for money from our clients.  If a donation is offered, inform clients that Shepherd’s Center Central gladly accepts donations and the center will send them donation envelopes.  Then let the office know!

—this article was contributed by Janet W. Watson

Explore Your Future graduates stay together, keep the conversations going and find mutual support…

At Starbuck’s on North Prospect, the aroma of the holiday special blends and beverages permeated the air and the holiday decorations were everywhere.  It’s the place where Barbara, Nita, Peggy and a couple of others have met monthly since completing the Explore Your Future series last summer.

“We’ve become fast friends.  We really don’t see ourselves as others do.  They gave me confidence I didn’t feel for myself, “said one.

“’Explore Your Future’ was VERY important in helping me take a closer look at where I am and where I’m going at this time in my life.  I’m not the same person or in the same mindset I was even a decade ago.  These sessions helped me stabilize my vision and give me the tools I need to move forward.”

“I liked learning the meditation exercise.  I had never done that before and now I use it all the time – it’s so valuable in helping me to relax, focus and direct my energies to accomplishing my goals.”

Nita wants to write a book about her family, its people and history.  Barbara wants to travel and have more interesting experiences, maybe with others of like interests.  Peggy is seeking a new employment opportunity and is mother to an energetic teenager.

“I had some plans but didn’t recognize or realize that I had such a good foundation laid to go forward.”

“EYF help me put some key things into proper focus.”

“EYF helped me to really get to know myself at this stage in my life.  I thought I knew ‘me’ and yet they taught me more about myself.  I was surprised by that.  It’s been wonderful.”

“The small group work in the class offered lots of opportunity for great feedback.  As we worked through the exercises, we could share our thoughts and ideas and hear what others could add.”

“None of us knew one another when we began the classes.  The facilitator and the way the sessions are set-up made it feel safe to share openly.   And of course, we became so close, we decided to stay together.  That’s how we’ve become such good friends.  We support one another in our goals. ”

“EYF gives you a chance to talk about ‘you’.  It’s a time to explore what’s important to ‘me’.  Rarely has anyone given me the opportunity to do that.  The exercises help to facilitate openness and sharing.”

“We reaped the rewards of a new perspective which we got from others.  I found myself saying, ‘I never really looked at it that way’ – they gave me a whole new perspective.”

Nita’s book is now in full production.  Peggy is proofreading and offering comments to help Nita tell the interesting and poignant story of her sometimes ‘the funny’ and sometimes ‘the sadness’ of her  family’s life.  “Peggy has made suggestions that have made it even better,” says Nita.  “I even shared it with my teenage son and he was amazed and interested in the history – I guess you’d say this has become and intergenerational activity,” said Peggy.

Nita was made aware of an online workshop for beginning writers and she reports that it has already helped to hone her writing skills.  “I may never sell this book, but I’m having great fun writing it.  I’m re-living memories and have reaffirmed that my parents were really good parents.”

In her book she has told the story about the homemade potato salad her grandmother used to make from scratch – it was a source of pride for her.  “She had to make her own mayonnaise – there was no Miracle Whip or Kraft’s which she could just buy at the grocery store.  When those things came available, I remember that they became very ‘brand’ conscious, only the best would do.”

Peggy continues to reach out, network and follow-up on every job lead.  “It’s tough out there and I just have to be patient until the right opportunity comes along.  I have years of experience, I’m sure something good will happen.”  In the meantime, she is filling in part-time at a previous employer’s business.  “I’m optimistic and these monthly gatherings really help me stay positive and reinforce that I have a lot to offer.”

Barbara has already made a trip to California to visit her son, has been to Nashville with friends, and has other trips in the works.  She smiles broadly at how far she has come from just “wanting to travel to actually doing it.  It’s not as daunting as I thought it would be.  I love it!”

The new friends agree that they look forward to these monthly meetings very much.  “I wouldn’t miss it.  We all want to be friends and we can just be ourselves – no pretenses here,” said Barbara.  Peggy and Nita nodded affirmatively.

Then Nita summed it up, “One good thing about aging is the luxury it affords you to just not give a darned about what other people think.  You can do it your way!”

Then they laughed together, these new, best friends!

Joann Linder contacted the RSVP  office with the answer to our Who-Made-The-Quilt Mystery.

Millie Brewer, RSVP volunteer for over 17 years, made the quilt in 1998.
Great work, Millie!

In a recent newsletter, we asked for your help to solve the mystery of the quilt.  A beautiful quilt used to hang in the Volunteer Center of Johnson County office at Metcalf South mall.  The quilt moved along with the RSVP program to the Shepherd’s Center Central office at Johnson County Community College, where we have received many compliments and inquiries about it.

Happily, after seeing our story in the Fall newsletter, Joann Linder contacted the RSVP office with the answer to our mystery.  Millie Brewer, an RSVP volunteer for over 17 years, made the quilt in 1998.

Millie started volunteering with the RSVP program after signing up with a friend.  Shortly after enrolling, Millie signed up for a class she saw advertised to learn how to make lap quilts.  She then volunteered to make lap quilts for patients at local hospitals.  It was volunteer work that she could complete while also staying home to care for her ailing husband.  Although Millie knew that she

was still perfecting her quilting abilities at that time, she said that she would show each and every lap quilt she completed to her husband before turning it in to the Volunteer Center.  And each and every time she showed a completed quilt to her husband, he would exclaim that it was absolutely beautiful!

When staff at the Volunteer Center gave Millie a pattern and a request for a quilt, she set about making the quilt that we pictured in the last newsletter.

We certainly agree that Millie, and all of our volunteers, have hearts of gold!

But, what’s Millie up to these days?
Once a volunteer, always a volunteer.
Millie is making beautiful baby caps and gorgeous afghans.

Don’t miss!
Click here to download our flyer for The Caregiver’s Journey special series.

The support you need to help aging family, neighbors, & friends.

This 3-part series, provided by aging and healthcare professionals, will provide info on community resources, managing stress, & more.

Attend one, two, or all three sessions!

Tuesday, January 10^th  / Creating Caregiving Pathways

Thursday, February 16^{th /} Family Matters –Which Way To Turn?

Tuesday, March 13^{th /} The Changing Landscape

Place:  Villa Ventura Senior Living Community

            12100 Wornall Road

            Kansas City, MO 64145
Time:   6:15 – 8: 00 PM  / refreshments served

No charge; registration is required.

To RSVP:   Villa Ventura at 816-941-0525.  

Sponsored by Villa Ventura and The Caregiver Institute at Shepherd Center Central

What makes a book a best-seller? A favorite classic?

Book lovers will enjoy this weekly discussion of different genres, led by staff from the Waldo Branch of the Kansas City Public Library.

Adventures In Learning Classes are held at South Broadland Presbyterian Church, 7850 Holmes in Kansas City, MO.

One payment of $15 covers enrollment for all 10 sessions.
Stay for a single class, or attend classes of your choice from 9 am to 12 noon. Then, stay for the Noon Forum program of fabulous speakers! Enjoy a $6 catered lunch or bring your own sack lunch.
Let’s talk about books—from mysteries to westerns, historical fiction to science fiction, the classics and more!

Staff from the Waldo Branch of the Kansas City Public Library will lead this new series as we discuss bestsellers and award winners, as well as books that made great movies.

Come share your favorites and explore new literary worlds!

Read all about it!  AL Winter 2012 Quarterly Newsletter

Don’t Miss the special excerpt on our Civil War Series: AL Civil War Insert.

Our Adventures in Learning program offers Fabulous Speakers and Terrific Topics.

Noon Forum starts Fridays at noon and adjourns at 1:15pm.

Click here to read all about our Noon Forum Series 2012

Lunch from Comfort Catering is $6 or you may bring your own sack lunch.

January 6
A Life in Dance
Billie Mahoney began with a baton-twirling act, then mastered advanced tap. She performed in New York for 40 years: in musical theater with Bob Fosse, touring with Bob Hope, and appearing on both Sid Caesar’s and Ed Sullivan’s TV shows.

January 13
Boulevard Brewing Company
John McDonald worked as a skilled cabinetmaker until a trip to Europe inspired him to create his own small craft brewery. Opened in 1989, it is now the second largest in Missouri with distribution in 12 states.

January 20
Joplin’s Tornado Tragedy
Two accomplished journalists will review the Joplin story: Eric Adler, senior feature reporter at the Kansas City Star for 26 years, also teaches journalism at KU; Laura Bauer is winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism award and Investigative Reporters and Editors’ honors.

January 27
Local Theater Growth
In his 30-some years as both reporter and critic at the Kansas City Star, Robert Trussell has covered film, the arts, entertainment events, and music from pop, country and jazz to the classics. He’ll explore the exceptional growth of local theater productions.

February 3
Jesse James Museum
A Baptist minister’s son born in Kearney, Missouri, Jesse James joined the Confederacy as a teen.
Postwar, he joined other guerillas robbing trains and banks, including a murderous hit in Liberty. His mother later sold his grave rocks as souvenirs. Liz Murphy, tour guide and archivist, brings the tales.

February 10
Anne Peterson
For 22 years, Anne Peterson co-anchored local news with Wendall Anschutz. Nominated for Emmys numerous times, she was the first Kansas City anchor to specialize in health and family issues. TV journalist and talk show host Anne Peterson speaks on the “Heart of Broadcasting.”

February 17
“Harry Truman: “His Life, His Legacy and His Library” by retired educator Larry Sebby, Library volunteer. Hear of Truman’s early family farm years and southern influences, to his last nine years at the Library — sometimes answering the main phones, playing piano and leading impromptu tours for stray tourists.

February 24
Linda Hall Library
Linda Hall marks 65 years as the world’s foremost independent research library devoted to science, engineering and technology. It offers exhibitions, a rare book collection, and lectures by Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winning authors at no charge. Development Director Kimberly Allen is presenter.

March 2
Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber, begun in 1887, includes 2500 businesses, non-profits and civic organizations. President Jim Heeter, former city councilman, fills us in on current issues and the innovative ways businesses are growing.

March 9
KU Cancer Center
Dr. Roy Jenson began his medical work in pathology and cell biology. Currently, director of KU’s Cancer Center as well as Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute, his lab has led studies in the genetic alterations resulting in breast cancer.

What were its triggers? Where were its battles? Who were its leaders? Who served? What of the families of the soldiers who died? How did the nation change?

We invite you to ten presentations.  Our guest lecturers are authors scholars and historians and include four professors from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

These 50-minute presentations will be held each Friday beginning January 6 at 11 a.m. at South Broadland Presbyterian Church, 7850 Holmes in Kansas City, Missouri.

For more information, call Shepherd’s Center Central, 816-444-1121.

MORE ABOUT ADVENTURES IN LEARNING

This special Civil War series is part of the Adventures in Learning program offered by Shepherd’s Center Central.  Adventures in Learning participants meet 40 Fridays a year at South Broadland Presbyterian located at 78th & Holmes in Kansas City, Mo.

The Adventures in Learning curriculum changes quarterly.

Participants can choose from 10 classes offered every week.

At noon, all participants enjoy lunch together at the Noon Forum, which features outstanding speakers, guest lecturers and noted entertainers. Cost of the Adventures in Learning program is only $15.00 for a 10-week session of classes. Catered lunch may be purchased for $6.00 or you can bring your own lunch to the Noon Forum.

Blood pressure checks are available the 3rd Friday of the month by the VNA for no charge.

Click Here to see the latest curriculum, including the roster of Noon Forum Guests.

Click Here to see the featured Special Series: “The American Civil War” Fridays at 11 AM.
 South Broadland Presbyterian located at 78th & Holmes in Kansas City, MO.

This year, COA/RSVP JOCO will participate in the MLK Day of Service by partnering with Blessings Abound Thrift Store. Please bring food items in easy open containers for distribution to area food pantries.  You may also bring hats, scarves, and mittens for outreach to the homeless.
Jump in! Bring a friend or young relative with you to model how you are contributing to the community through volunteerism.

Drop off location:  Blessings Abound, 9620 Nall Ave in Overland Park, KS. (SW corner of 95^th and Nall)
Drop off dates:  January 9-16, 2012
Drop off times: Mon – Fri 10-6; Sat 10-3; closed Sunday
More info: contact Susie Newman, 816-457-3137, susie@sccentral.org
or Victoria McGowan at Blessings Abound, 913-648-0700, www.blessingsaboundkc.com