April

2017

Enhancing the quality of life for older adults by

providing access to a continuum of services,

programs, and resources that promote healthy

living and independence.

Rich Thoughts from the Executive Director

April 2017

Rich Thoughts from the Executive Director

Who doesn’t love spring? It is by far my favorite time of the year for so many reasons. It’s a time

of renewal and looking ahead. My most favorite part of the season is when family and friends to

come together to celebrate the Easter season.

Over the last 6 months, I have been on a 50 churches in 50 weeks speaking tour and it has been great. I have met so many caring and

loving leaders in our community. The history and culture of our churches is so rich and deeply passionate. I speak often to these

groups about how hunger for our older adults is, quite honestly, a preventable crime and getting worse! I challenged our churches

that while we are funding missions around the world, spreading the good news of hope and love, are we missing the greatest mission

field right here in our own backyard?

Imagine, during this season of hope, love and miracles, if these 50 churches (there are many more) committed to donating $50.00 or

$100.00 a month for a year to the Council on Aging’s senior meals program! Hunger…GONE! While visiting one of these 50

churches, I shared my story with a local pastor and he caught me off guard. Those that know me know that does not happen very

often. His church agreed and committed to giving $1,000 a month for a year to fight hunger in their community and he knows they

might be members of his congregation. That is love in action, that is caring for your local family, and that, my friends, is a miracle.

This church took a stand to serve all people and truly showed what it means to be the light.

This season as you enjoy the holiday, attend a local church or maybe a Sunday dinner with loved ones, will you take a moment to

think about the reason for the season and be light throughout the year for someone who is hungry and in a dark place?

Blessings, Rich Zeck

Executive Director

COA Executive Board

Rich Zeck—Executive Director

Malcolm Smith—Chair

Kelly Kurz—Past Chair

Mary Hall—Vice Chair

Ed Tew—Treasurer

Linda McGehee—Secretary

COA’s Angels:

Tawanda Mararike, Kayla

Conger, & Mona Sims are three

talented women who have tirelessly served

older adults via their work at the Council on

Aging. Many remember the 1970’s TV show Charlie’s Angels where the heroines were

always up for any challenge given to them. The same is true for our three angels at the

COA.

Angels continued on page 5

Council on Aging and Greenville Senior Center 4551 County Home Road

Greenville, NC 27858 Phone: 252-752-1717 Fax: 252-752-9365

Thank you to everyone that made a donation of time, supplies, or monetary contributions to the Council on

Aging in March

2

2017 Council on Aging Holidays & Closings

April 14th Good Friday May 29th Memorial Day July 4th Independence Day September 4th Labor Day November 10th Veterans Day November 23rd Thanksgiving Day November 24th Day after Thanksgiving Day December 18th thru 30th Sites Closed December 25th thru 30th Office Closed

Please note that on these days, ALL Senior Centers will be closed, and Meals on Wheels will not be delivered.

Don’t forget that the Council on Aging has Ensure, Glucerna, and Nepro for sale at discounted prices. No prescription or ordering needed! Just stop by.

Ensure $23/ 24 cans Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry

Ensure PLUS $25/ 24 cans

Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry

Glucerna $36/ 24 cans - Vanilla Nepro $65 / 24 cans—Vanilla

Carissa Spencer Trillium Mary Hall Mid-East Commission Duplicate Bridge Scrapbook Group SHIIP Volunteers Meal Delivery Volunteers Instructional Volunteers Office Staff Volunteers Senior Center Volunteers

Special Thanks To: John & Sarah Minges Open Door International

Contributions for the Legislative Breakfast: ASAP Rental Duck Donuts Harris Teeter Mona Sims

“Like” us on Facebook “Pitt County Senior Center”

or visit us on the web www.pittcoa.com

Intercessory Christian Center Tanisha Oden Mary Ann Rose Carolyn & Alan Dyer Becky Overton June Owens Christine & Howard Tepper Libby Tucker Edward Tew Rodney Coles Caring Hands Spring Forest Housing Lynndale Garden Club Cathy Critchfield Bridge Club Hooker Memorial Oakmont Baptist Gateway Health Charlotte-Anne Alexander Linda Wolfe Theresa Mann Rosie Grinder Barbara Haney

Your Time: Spend 1 hour a week delivering meals

or answering phones.

Your Talent: Teach a class, use your computer skills,

lead a project, or paint a room

Your Riches: $6.50 to feed someone one meal or

$1,700 to feed them for a year.

Your Extras: Copy Paper, Sticky Notes, Paper Plates

Paper Towels, Craft Supplies, Books,

Pens, Hand Soap, Disinfecting Wipes

And Lysol.

3

4

For more information, call (252) 752-1717 ext. 7.

2017 Road to Resources:

A Guide to Services for Older

Date Topic

April 17th Unraveling The Myths About Veteran Benefits

May 15th Staying Active: Recreational Programs

When: 3rd Monday of Each Month

Time: 3:00pm to 4:00pm

Where: Council on Aging

4551 County Home Road, Greenville, NC 27858

Angels continued from page 1

After working nearly 25 years serving aging adults through AARP in Washington, D.C., Mona Sims was invited by one of her

daughters to move out of the city to Winston Salem, North Carolina where she resided for 2 years. After one quick tour of

East Carolina University, Mona new that Greenville was the place she wanted to become a Community and Family Science

major. Mona describes her experience at the Pitt County Council on Aging as a “wonderful experience” and encourages oth-

ers that even at an older age, it is possible to accomplish dreams and explore self-discovery. Recently, Mona gathered the

staff together to successfully coordinate a Legislative Breakfast at the Council on Aging with guests from the N.C. House and

Senate were panelists. On a normal day at the Council on Aging, Mona can be found in the office answering phone calls,

coordinating special events, putting together the monthly newsletter, or creating flyers. In her free time, Mona enjoys

emerging herself in her four children and six grandchildren.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Tawanda Mararike is now in Greenville studying Social Work at East Carolina University. Her in-

volvement with the Pitt County Council on Aging began in July of 2016 when she began volunteering with Meals on Wheels.

Tawanda has worked directly with seniors, performing client assessments and interacting with individuals at home. She has

also helped put together Farmers Market vouchers to help older adults in our area receive fresh, local foods. Tawanda de-

scribes the Council on Aging as client-focused; “We do everything with and for them – if we do not have the service, we ad-

vocate for them…if we do not serve them, who will?” Upon graduating this May, Tawanda’s future includes continuing her

education by attending the Graduate School of Business at East Carolina University.

Kayla Conger, a Human Services major at Pitt Community College, was inspired by her grandfather’s diagnosis with cancer to

focus her time and energy on serving older adults in her community. While her grandfather has since recovered, the Pitt

County Council on Aging has served as a fresh source of motivation for Kayla. Her primary duties at the Council on Aging

include behind-the-scenes work like data entry, paperwork, and helping serve routes for the Meals on Wheels program.

When she graduates this May, Kayla plans to find a job in Greenville performing hospice care. In her free time, Kayla enjoys

spending time with her two cats, reading, and playing video games.

5

Should I Laminate My Medicare

Card? The Social Security Administration advises

against card lamination in general because the

card may have built-in security features that

could be compromised by lamination. As an al-

ternative, for a few dollars at your local business

supply store, you can purchase a plastic ID card

holder to protect your Medicare card. The card

will be safe, and security features will not be

compromised.

If you lose your Medi-

care card, or it gets

damaged, you can

contact the Social Se-

curity Administration in

any of the following

ways to get it replaced:

Visit the Social Security website

www.ssa.gov

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY

users call 1-800-325-0778) Monday through

Friday, from 7AM to 7PM.

Visit your local Social Security office

If you have questions about Medicare enrollment

or Medicare benefits, please call Wanda John-

son, Medicare Benefits Specialist at the

Council on Aging at 252-752-1717 ext. 6.

*Information taken from the Social Security website

https://faq.ssa.gov

**The Medicare Assistance Program is funded in part

by Vidant Medical Center Foundation.

Medicare

Matters

Office of the Inspector General Phone Scam!

The US Department of Health and Human Services

(HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has

confirmed that the HHS OIG telephone number is

being used as part of a telephone spoofing scam.

The caller represents themselves as HHS OIG Hot-

line employees and can alter the appearance of the

caller ID to make it also appear that the call is from

the 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) number.

The caller is using a variety of tactics to obtain in-

formation from potential victims that would allow

them to access their bank accounts and conduct

other fraudulent activity.

It is important to remember that the HHS OIG will

not use their hotline telephone number to make

outgoing calls and individuals should not answer

calls from their toll-free number. Please remember

to be vigilant in giving your personal information to

anyone unless you are sure it is safe.

We encourage anyone who believes that they may

have been a victim of the telephone spoofing scam

to report it to the HHS OIG Hotline at 1-800-447-

8477 or spoof@oig.hhs.gov. You can also file a

complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at 1-

877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

**The Medicare Assistance Program is supported in

part by the Vidant Health Foundation.

Monday

9-9:30 Coffee & Conversation

9:30-11 Bible Study

1-3:30 Billiards ET Group

1-5 Duplicate Bridge

5:30 Golden Sneakers Exercise $2

7-9 Line Dancing $4

Tuesday 9-9:15 Coffee & Conversation

9:15– 10 Intergenerational Music

10:15-11 Fun & Fit Exercise

10-2 Mexican Train Dominos

1-3 Knit & Crochet Group

2-3 Silver Sneakers $1

2-5 Card Games & Billiards

6-9 Duplicate Bridge

April

Wednesday 9-9:30 Coffee & Conversation

9-5 Duplicate Bridge

10-12 Billiards

1-3:30 Billiards ET Group

1-4 Beginning Mahjong

5:30 Golden Sneakers Exercise $2

6:30 Beg. Shag Dance R$

7:30 Int. Shag Dance R$

1

9-12 Whimsical Applique

Quilting & Embroidery R$

10-12 Flexibility Screening

10:15 Senior Info. Class

6

10-12 Knitting Class (LLP) R$ 10-12 Greenville Museum Art 2-5 Family Stories (PCC) R$ 6-9 Applique Quilting R$

13

10-12 Knitting Class (LLP) R$ 11:30 AARP Chapter Meeeting 2-5 Family Stories (PCC) 6-9 Applique Quilting R$

7-9 Healthy Vibrant You

20

10-12 Knitting Class (LLP) 2-4 Road to Resources: Estate & Adv Care Plan 2-5 Family Stories (PCC) R$ 6-9 Applique Quilting (R$

27

10-12 Knitting Class (LLP) 2-5 Family Stories (PCC) R$ 6-9 Applique Quilting R$

7

8-1:30 Tax Prep (R)

6-9 Watercolors (PCC ) R$

6:30 Calligraphy (PCC) R$

14

8-1:30 Tax Prep (R)

10-12 Fashion Show /Valentine Party

9-12 Threads of Love

6-9pm Watercolors (PCC) R$

6:30 Calligraphy (PCC)R$

21

8-1:30pm Tax Prep (R)

12:30-1:30 Explore Travel

w/Chamber and COA

6-9pm Watercolors (PCC) R$

28

8-1:30 Tax Prep (R)

6-9pm Watercolors (PCC) R$

8

9:30-10 Brain Exercises

10-12 PT Screening

9:30-11 Crafts with Barb

15

9:30-10 Brain Exercises

9:30-1:30 Healthwise

BP Screening

9-12 Whimsical Applique Quilting &

22

9:30-10 Brain Exercises 10:15 Trillium Health Topic 9-12 Whimsical Applique Quilting & Embroidery R$

Monday

9-9:30 Coffee & Conversation

9:30-11 Bible Study

1-3:30 Billiards ET Group

1-5 Duplicate Bridge

5:30 Golden Sneakers Exercise $2

7-9 Line Dancing $4

Tuesday 8:30-1:30 Tax Prep R

9-9:15 Coffee & Conversation

10:15-11 Fun & Fit Exercise

10-2 Mexican Train Dominos

1-3 Knit & Crochet Group

2-3 Silver Sneakers $1

2-5 Card Games & Billiards

6-9 Duplicate Bridge

Wednesday

9-9:30 Coffee & Conversation 9:30-10 Brain Exercises 9-5 Duplicate Bridge 10-12 Billiards 1-3:30 Billiards ET Group 1-4 Beginning Mahjong 5:30 Golden Sneakers Exercise $2 6:30 Beg. Shag Dance R$ 7:30 Int. Shag Dance R$

3

9-12 Quilting Class (1 of 8)

2-5 Family Stories (PCC)

6-9 PM Quilting Class(2 of 8)R$

10

9-12 Quilting Class (2 of 8)

6-9 PM Quilting Class (3 of 8)R$

17

9-12 Quilting Class (3of8)

3-4 Road to Resources: A Guide to Services for Older Adults

6-9pm PM Quilting Class(4of8)R$

24

9-12 Quilting Class (4of8)

2-5 Family Stories (PCC) R$

6-9 PM Quilting Class (5of8)R$

4

9:30-12 Beginner Bridge

2-4 Gardening Class

6-9 Watercolors (PCC) R$

11

9-12 Threads of Love

9:15-10 Intergenerational Music

2-4 Gardening Class

6-9 Watercolors (PCC) R$

18

9:30-12 Beginner Bridge

2-4 Gardening Class

6-9 Watercolors (PCC) R$

NO SILVER SNEAKERS CLASS

25

9:15-10 Intergenerational Music

NO SILVER SNEAKERS CLASS

5

9-12 Whimsical Applique

Quilting & Embroidery R$

10:15 Sr. Information Class

6-9 Applique Quilting

12

9:30-11 Congregate Crafts w/Barb

10-12 Physical Therapy

Screening

12:30-2 Crafts with Barb 6-9 Applique Quilting R$

19

9-12 Whimsical Applique Quilting & Embroidery R$ 9:30 Nutrition & Hypertension

6-9 Applique Quilting R$

26

9-12 Whimsical Applique Quilting & Embroidery R$ 10:15 Trillium Health 6-9 Applique Quilting R$

Key:

$ = Fee

R = Registration Required

April

Thursday

9-9:30 Coffee & Conversation

10:15-11 Fun & Fit Exercise

10-2 Canasta or Hand & Foot

12:30 Quilting Group

2-3 Silver Sneakers $1

2-5 Card Games & Billiards

5:30 TOPS Weight Loss

Saturday

1-5 Card Junkies

12:30 Duplicate Bridge

2

8-1:30 Tax Prep (R)

10-12 Acrylic Painting

12-1 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 3-5 Calligraphy (PCC) R$

9

8-1:30 Tax Prep (R)

3-5 Calligraphy (PCC) R$

16

8-1:30 Tax Prep (R) 9:30-2 Sewing for Seniors 3-5 Calligraphy (PCC) 7-9 Nature Photographers

23

8-1:30pm Tax Prep (R)

3

3-4:30 Laughter Yoga (LLP)

10

11

12:30 Duplicate Bridge

4

9:30-4:30 Scrapbooking

17

18

9:30-4:30 Scrapbooking

12:30 Duplicate Bridge

24

25

12:30 Duplicate Bridge

Key:

$ = Fee

R = Registration Required

Thursday

8:00-1:30 Tax Prep R

9-9:30 Coffee & Conversation

10:15-11 Fun & Fit Exercise

10-2 Canasta or Hand & Foot

12:30 Quilting Group

2-3 Silver Sneakers $1

2-5 Card Games & Billiards

5:30 TOPS Weight Loss

Friday

9-9:30 Coffee & Conversation

10-11 BINGO

2-3 Chair Yoga $1

Saturday

10:00 TOPS Weight Loss

1-5 Card Junkies

12:30 Duplicate Bridge

6

10-12 Acrylic Painting R$

2-4 Foundations of Investing (PCC)

5-7 TOPS Weight Mgmt.

13

10-12 Pneumonia & Shingles

Vaccination Registration

5-7 TOPS Weight Mgmt.

20

NO SILVER SNEAKERS CLASS

7-9 Nature Photographers

27

10-12 Pneumonia & Shingles

Vaccinations Given

NO SILVER SNEAKERS

7

8

1

9:30-4:30 Scrapbooking

14

10-12 Soap Making Class R

15

9:30-4:30 Scrapbooking

21

NO CHAIR YOGA

22

28

10-11 Intergenerational Music NO CHAIR YOGA 7-10 Line Dance Social

29

8

Prevent Falls in Your Home

The Council on Aging is seeking City of Greenville homeowners age 55 and over, and Pitt County home-

owners age 60 and over who are at risk for falls, are fearful of falling, or who have fallen. Our goal is to fa-

cilitate suitable living environments to enable adults to live safer and more independently in their current

home. This would be accomplished through the provision of a home safety assessment, falls prevention

education, and recommendations/resources and/or assistance for safety

equipment such as grab bars, hand rails, etc. Please call 252-752-1717 x

14 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

9

Greenville, NC — Arlington Commons

10

Series of Three Free Classes

Introduction to Computer

Tuesday, May 16 at 2:00-4:00

Tuesday, May 23 at 2:00-4:00

Tuesday, May 30 at 2:00-4:00

Space is Limited, Registration Required: 252-752-1717 ext. 13

Series of Three Free Classes

Using a Tablet, iPhone, or Smartphone

Thursday, May 11 at 2:00-4:00

Thursday May 18 at 2:00-4:00

Thursday, May 25 at 2:00-4:00

11

You Can Rent This Space

And Reach Older Adults

In Eastern North Carolina

Contact Ainslie Guion at 252-752-1717

For More Information

Lynette Sullivan Independent Sales Representative

252-412-2505

lynettesullie@yahoo.com youravon.com/lynettesullivan

Ask Me About Fundraising

Join us for Senior Day the FIRST Tuesday of EVERY Month.

We offer a variety of services for your convenience:

Immunizations, Blood Pressures, Medication Therapy Management,

There are 6 convenient locations in Pitt County to help with all your needs.