Updates and Announcements
Volunteer Appreciation Banquet
Monday, April 17th at 5:30 pm
A special event to celebrate and recognize our volunteers
Menu: Sliced Roast Pork Loin and Pan Gravy, Scalloped Potatoes, Grilled Zucchini, Caesar Salad, Blueberry Pie
Live Music, Delicious Food, Gifts, Fun!
Please RSVP by April 10th at 457-3277 (volunteers only)
April is known as Volunteer Appreciation month as organizations take this opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about in their community.
All Thompson volunteers are invited to join us for dinner at 5:30 pm for a special time to celebrate the incredible gift that volunteers give to our community.
CELEBRATE MARCH FOR MEALS WITH US!
The month of March mobilizes hundreds of local Meals on Wheels (MOW) programs across the country to reach out to their communities and build the support that will enable them to serve America’s elder population all year long. As a member of the national organization, Meals on Wheels America, The Thompson participates in this annual celebration.
Volunteers for The Thompson currently deliver 50 meals each day (Monday through Friday) to Vermonters throughout the towns of Woodstock, Bridgewater, Barnard, and Pomfret. If you or a neighbor or friend could benefit from home delivered Meals on Wheels, please call us.
In 2022 we delivered nearly 18,000 Meals on Wheels! Ten years ago in 2012 we delivered 5,800 meals! We have exciting plans to expand our kitchen and dining room beginning in 2023.
The highlights of our March for Meals events this year:
Our 9th annual Thank You Walk on March 1. Join us at 10:00 am on The Green in Woodstock to “march” down Central Street to deliver thank you notes, cookies and balloons to local businesses for their support throughout the year.
- Community Champions week is March 20-24 where town officials and local celebrities nationwide are asked to participate in meal deliveries and events.
- Tuesday, March 21 at 10:00 am will be our annual MOW driver meeting providing an opportunity for a review of requirements/procedures, to share ideas, and to celebrate the wonderful work of our MOW volunteers!
- Special Thanks to the Woodstock Farmers’ Market for once again making our meals program the beneficiary of their “Round-Up” campaign!
- Watch for our Meals on Wheels column in the Vermont Standard and visit our Facebook page for videos and more.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED
The Thompson Winter Gala
Please save the date for next year’s event on Sunday, January 28, 2024.
Click here for more details and to view our incredible donors and sponsors
COVID-19 & Flu
Precautions & Procedures
It is our goal to remain open to serve our community while doing our best to prevent illness and limit exposures. We need everyone’s help and cooperation to realize this goal. Covid symptoms can be as mild as a runny nose, a headache, or fatigue. If you have any potential symptoms or have been exposed to a positive case, please stay home and test negative, before returning.
To read more about this click here.
Building our Future Together
The Thompson Board of Directors has proposed that our building be renovated and expanded to better serve the older adults of our community. The renovation involves a 1,800 square foot expansion of the facility including:
- An expanded dining room egress to enhance traffic flow and our patrons’ use of outdoor space in the warmer months
- A major expansion of the kitchen and dining room
- A reconfiguration of the second floor to include additional meeting space
Please read more here and contact Executive Director, Deanna Jones, if you would like to support this mission-critical project. djones@thompsonseniorcenter.org or (802) 457-3277
Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud – Be Aware and Be Informed
Scams and fraud attempts are on the rise and can happen to anyone. Learn how to protect yourself.
As of early June, Attorney General T.J. Donovan is warning Vermonters about a new variation of the family emergency scam in which scammers are demanding that cash be handed over in person to a “courier.” By presenting a fake emergency in which their loved one needs help getting out of trouble, scammers pressure panicked family members, including grandparents, into acting before they can realize it’s a scam. Until recently, scammers took a hands-off approach in collecting money, demanding gift cards, wire transfers, or virtual payments. Now, the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) is receiving reports that scammers are enlisting “couriers” to collect cash directly from unsuspecting family members at their homes to resolve the fake emergency. Vermonters who receive these calls should resist the urge to act immediately and take steps to verify the caller’s identity.
“These scenarios are designed by scammers to be emotional and high pressure,” said Attorney General Donovan. “If you are presented with this type of scenario—pause, hang up the phone, and call a friend or family member to verify. Do not give money to someone coming to your home. Instead, call local law enforcement and the Consumer Assistance Program to identify and report the scam.”
If you or someone you know has lost money to this scam, contact law enforcement and report the scam to CAP at 1-800-649-2424. Learn more about family emergency scams by watching CAP’s Avoiding the Family Emergency Scam video and reviewing steps to verify at https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/family-imposter/ and attend our upcoming program on July 21.
CAP advises Vermonters to slow down and follow a plan to not get scammed. Use the SLOW method in urgent situations.
Information taken in part from www.ago.vermont.gov
Meet Chef Andrew Geller!
Chef Andrew Geller has over 30 years of experience in the culinary field in restaurants and resorts, banquets/catering, as Executive Chef, and Chef and restaurant owner. He is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America. Most recently he and his family-owned and operated Drewski’s On The River in Bridgewater Corners beginning in 2009. Before moving to Vermont, his culinary talent led him to a resort in Maui, Hawaii, The Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida, and as a traveling Corporate Chef for a Five Star Luxury Hotel Group where his main focus was on team building, culinary innovation, and cost control. Chef Andrew not only brings wonderful experience but also a brilliant smile and loads of enthusiasm for the Thompson. We’re also so pleased that his son was a participant in one of our Generation to Generation programs a few years back and told his dad what a fun place this would be to work!
Age Well with The Thompson
Special events, fun exercise classes, interesting programs, tax assistance, free gently-used medical equipment, creative arts programs, and delicious meals are just a few of the things you’ll find at The Thompson Senior Center. Our building, staff, and volunteers provide a welcoming and fun environment for people of many ages and backgrounds to gather. But, we’re even more than what happens at The Thompson. We have the resources and experience to assist you where you want to be, at home.
One Number to Call
One number to call for any need — Thompson staff and volunteers are happy to help with any question — from shower chairs to Medicare and everything in between.
Vetted Service Providers
We partner with a wide variety of businesses and individuals to bring you any service you need to AGE WELL at HOME!
We check references and only suggest businesses or individuals who have happily agreed to be an Aging at Home service provider.
Handyman Services
The Thompson has a staff handyman who can help with small odd-jobs to help keep your home safe and supportive. Suggested Donation is $35/hour. Call our Aging at Home Resource Coordinator, Shari, to see if your small odd job can be done! (802) 457-3277
Homeshare Facilitation
Homesharing is a simple idea where two or more people share a home for mutual benefit. A person offers a private bedroom and shared common space in exchange for rent, help around the home or a combination of the two. After conducting background and reference checks, we will work to find the most compatible match possible based on your interests, needs, and lifestyle. There are no age or income restrictions to be eligible for the program. Read more….
Age Well Education Series and Outreach
Monthly educational talks are presented on topics ranging from legal planning, fall prevention, funeral planning options, Smart Driver safety course, nutrition and cooking, downsizing, hospital-to-home transitions, advance directives, and more.
Our Age Well e-newsletter is published every other month and provides readers with information on ways to age well at home and in their community through current and reliable information on health, lifestyle, diet, and resources. Call or email to sign-up.
We hope you’ll connect with us and find the inspiration, friendship, support, and fun to age well. Visit us in person, or read more about our Aging at Home program here, or contact us at (802) 457-3277 or info@thompsonseniorcenter.org