Embedded Files
Contacts: Laurie Downey (lauriejdowney@gmail.com) & Deb Flint (debontheweb@roadrunner.com)
Joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities: 2022-01-13
Structure: Regional 501c3 volunteer board/committee
Highlight of 2023: We were able to offer a wider range of social activities in the past year, due to strong volunteer efforts! A monthly community lunch program provided by a professional chef, weekly coffees in one of the town offices, weekly walks and collaborating with the local rec council to provide occasional square dances. All of these have been wildly popular - clearly fulfilling a need for older residents to have more opportunities to socialize.
The Grateful Undead is a regional approach that encompasses five communities:
Baldwin
Cornish
Hiram
Parsonfield
Porter
Grateful Undead's Initiatives and Accomplishments:
Communication and Information
We educate the aging public in how to live safely, independently, and comfortably. We put out a Resources List containing many community organizations and resources; it is also on our website. We collaborate with the SAD 55 Adult Education program to offer classes related to aging, including a workshop led by Grateful Undead members.
Community Supports and Health Services
We recently facilitated the launch of a men’s support group, and a cancer support group, in collaboration with the Sacopee Valley Health Center.
Grateful Undead members supported efforts to prevent the spread of covid, placing ads in the Shopping Guide to give reliable information about the pandemic.
Housing
Our Handy Helpers program involves volunteers helping seniors with minor home repairs and simple home safety modifications. Most volunteers are members of the Porter Grange or local Masonic Lodges, and members of those organizations coordinate the work.
Social Participation
Senior Central is a relatively new committee of the Grateful Undead. The aim is to create an active, engaged senior community through offering safe, stimulating, and supportive social events. Some of our current offerings include:
Monday Morning Coffee and Games featuring cornhole, scrabble, and card games
Monthly Community Cafe dinners, featuring delicious chef-prepared meals!
Wednesday Walkers, easy to moderate walks on level ground.
Transportation (including promotion of active transportation
We offer a Transporters program that has been providing free rides to medical appointments for seniors for over ten years. We are currently recruiting more volunteers to enable us to offer rides to the grocery store and to social events in the community.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse