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

Please call to reserve your spot. Let us know if you would prefer to view from home or watch from the Thompson and leave the technology to us.

James A. Garfield National Historic Site

Tuesday, June 7, 2:00 pm

At first glance, Abraham Lincoln and James A. Garfield have some obvious similarities: they were both bearded Republican presidents struck down by assassins. But there’s much more to the story than that! Lincoln and Garfield knew one another and shared many similar views. In fact, without Lincoln’s intervention, James Garfield might never have served in Congress or become President of the United States. But there were also some stark differences between the two as well, and Garfield privately expressed frustration with President Lincoln. This presentation will explore many of the similarities and differences between the nation’s sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln, and its twentieth President, James A. Garfield.

Exploring Lincoln in Washington:

National Mall and Ford’s Theatre

Tuesday, June 14, 2:00 pm, at home viewing only

Ford’s Theatre and The National Mall and Memorial Parks join forces to explore what Washington, D.C., was like for President Lincoln and how the city has grown and changed over time. Examine places that mattered to Lincoln during his lifetime and places where he matters to us today, including the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Ford’s Theatre. In this interactive program, participants will look closely at historic and contemporary images of Washington D.C. including maps, photographs and illustrations.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Tuesday, June 21, 2;00 pm

The building of the Casa Grande was a major event of the Classic Period (1100 – 1450 C.E.). The best dating methods available indicate that this large, caliche structure was built during the 1300’s. The construction appears to have been well planned and organized, requiring tons of material and a huge cooperative effort on the part of many people. Today we can only marvel at the Casa Grande and try to imagine what it was used for. Though many theories have been suggested, we still aren’t sure as to its purpose. All we can assume is that the Casa Grande must have been very important to the people who built it. Join us as we learn about this fascinating mystery in Arizona!

Truman Presidential Library: The Upset of the Century

Tuesday, June 28, 2:00 pm

Truman’s approval in 1948 was at an all-time low. Still, he enjoyed being President. He threw himself into the challenge of his long-shot re-election bid with confidence and verve. His aggressive cross-country “Whistle Stop” campaign began nearly broke.

Flanked by Bess “The Boss” Truman and crowd favorite Margaret, he crisscrossed the country thee times by train. He met with Midwestern farmers and cheering crowds in Harlem. He stressed high prices and housing. He attacked the “Do Nothing” 80th Congress. In the last campaign where television did not play a role, Truman spoke directly with voters.

His win over the heavily favored Republican candidate, Thomas Dewey, was one of the greatest upsets in U.S. political history.

Senior Centers: Delivering Vital Connections!