This year’s theme for national senior center month was chosen by the National Council on Aging to highlight how senior centers deliver vital connections to support older adults aging well. This is more evident now than ever before! Critical home delivered meals, grocery delivery, friendly check-in calls, virtual & onsite programs, and even phone Bingo have helped to keep our community members safer and happier at home during this challenging time. Preventing social isolation is vital and a core senior center mission. While the delivery methods have changed during the pandemic, centers have succeeded in continuing to provide knowledge, programming, and resources.

The Thompson plays a vital role in our community! Our staff, volunteers, and participants promote a positive image of aging. Together we are a vibrant, supportive senior center that thrives inside and outside of our walls and reaches far into the towns and countryside of our beautiful area. If you’re not a regular participant or volunteer, we invite you to get engaged by trying out a class, volunteering, or checking in with staff about other opportunities to enrich your life.

Fun Facts that show just how vital The Thompson has been these last months at keeping community members safe:

Meals on Wheels served since March 16^th: 5,542 (same time frame last year 3,546)
We’ve had 69 new recipients for home delivered Meals on Wheels!
Curbside take-out meals with our dining room closed: 2,710 meals to more than 300 unique individuals.
Hundreds of check-in calls, grocery & prescription deliveries, & virtual programs to help beat the Covid blues!

National Senior Center Month Celebration & Senior Center Volunteer Appreciation

Friday, September 25, 12:00 pm

Join us for our annual chicken BBQ and senior center month celebration – TAKE-OUT STYLE – on Friday September 25th!

Although we are operating under much different circumstances than this time last year, it will not deter us from celebrating National Senior Center month AND, our beloved Thompson Center volunteers!

These have been trying times, and we acknowledge each and every volunteer whether you were sidelined by pandemic restrictions, or jumping in to help as a new volunteer. You play a critical role in making The Thompson one of the very best senior centers around! We have so much to celebrate!

On Friday, September 25^th our favorite guest BBQ Chef, Nate Willard, and family will be grilling the chicken and Chef Ryan will serve potato salad, coleslaw, corn bread and lemon fool on the hill with blueberries. You must RSVP, but take-out lunches will be free for all of our volunteers and raffle prizes will be drawn from all who are registered for lunch! $5 minimum suggested donation for non-volunteers.

Thank you to all of you for your continued contribution to the success of our Center – your Center!

Please pre-register by calling The Thompson Center. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Your Virtual Senior Center

Senior Learning Network Virtual Programming at The Thompson

October & November Programs

Please note that these are all group viewings so leave the technology issues to us and watch with friends in the comfort of The Thompson on our newly updated large screen tv.

Call to reserve your seat.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library -“The Extraordinary Life of Jimmy Carter “

Tuesday, October 19, 2:00 pm

Throughout his life, President Carter has found himself in extraordinary circumstances faced with extraordinary opportunities, many of which were brought about by the American Presidency. This presentation will examine civic engagement and discuss the primary sources of the Carter Library and National Archives to address the question, “What is the secret to an extraordinary life?”

National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C – “A Visit to America’s Front Yard”

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2:00 pm

Visit with a Park Ranger from National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C, for a virtual tour of the park sometimes referred to as America’s Front Yard. We will explore the history and symbolism of memorials, such as Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr and more!

Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum

Tuesday, November 2, 2:00 pm

From January 20, 1953-January 20, 1961 Dwight D Eisenhower served two terms as President of the United States; brought armistice to Korean War; promoted Atoms for Peace; dealt with crises in Lebanon, Suez, Berlin, and Hungary and established the U.S. Information Agency. Did you know he also created the Federal Council on Aging? As President he also saw Alaska and Hawaii become states; signed the 1957 Civil Rights Act, the first civil rights legislation since the end of Civil War; sent federal troops to enforce court-ordered integration of Little Rock Central High School and signed the bill creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Join us at the Presidential Library and Museum as we discover more about our 34^th President.

National Museum of the Pacific War

Tuesday, November 9, 2:00 pm

In honor of Veteran’s Day, we will take a return visit to the National Museum of the Pacific War. This is always a favorite live tour!

Come and experience key events, numerous artifacts and hear more stories of those who served in the Pacific or the Home Front during WWII. Staff members will take you on an island hopping journey from Pearl Harbor to the surrender of Japan as they move through the George H.W. Bush Gallery.

Elephant Sanctuary

Tuesday, November 16, 2:00 pm

It’s time to re-visit the amazing elephants and hear their stories as we gain an understanding of how they are cared for in captivity. Your audience will foster compassion for animals and an awareness of animal welfare by hearing about the life stories of our resident elephants. We also discuss what goes into caring for the elephants at The Sanctuary, hopefully inspiring the next generation of animal care and non-profit.

Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

Tuesday, November 23, 2:00 pm

Herbert Clark Hoover, (August 10, 1874–October 20, 1964), mining engineer, humanitarian, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and the 31^st President of the United States. In addition to public service, Hoover devoted his post-Presidential years to social causes such as the Boys Clubs of America and the Hoover Institution, a research center he had established on the Stanford campus in 1919. He also wrote more than 40 books during those years.

Hoover’s attention returned to Iowa late in the 1950s when he agreed to allow friends and associates to construct a “Presidential library” near the site of his birthplace. Hoover insisted that the building be modest in size in accordance with scale of the other buildings in the community. The former President made his last visit to Iowa on August 10, 1962, to dedicate that building to the American people. Join us at the Presidential Library and Museum to discover more!

THE POWER OF A POWER OF ATTORNEY

A virtual Presentation

November 9, 1:00 pm

A legal Power of Attorney document can be a powerful tool to safeguard your financial wellbeing, but it can also lead to serious consequences if not done correctly. Attorney Leah Burdick will explain the ins and outs of what a Power of Attorney document is, how it is created, and what it means to be a named agent in a Power of Attorney under Vermont law. Leah Burdick, Esq. is an Elder Law attorney within the Elder Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid, Inc. Her practice areas include advanced planning for aging, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, housing, and individual rights. Please register through the Thompson to receive your Zoom link.

Senior Centers: Delivering Vital Connections!