Senior Citizens United Community Services (SCUCS)

Chris Smith of Senior Citizens United of Camden County spoke to us on all of the services  provided by SCUCS. The most visible is the SenTran system of shuttle vehicles.

The mission of Senior Citizens United Community Services is to “enhance the quality of life, encourage independence and provide a safe and supportive living environment for older adults and adults with disabilities, especially those with the greatest socio-economic need.”

Their goal is to keep older adults and people with disabilities living independently and active in the community and prevent unnecessary institutionalization, by offering an array of services to address the needs of our consumers and provide support for their caregivers.

The Transit support is available from 10 - 2 and can be used for shopping, personal business and non-emergency medical trips. There are sites that provide meals and the transit vehicles can provide transportation to / from these centers.

These vehicles are also available off schedule for special group trips. We used hem for our trip to the Evergreens.

SCUCS offers day, overnight and extended excursions, including cruises, geared towards senior citizens.  However, everyone is eligible to travel with us!  By following the link below, you can browse our trip offerings, download the latest brochure or sign-up for their enewsletter.

Model Railroading

Fred Willis talked to us about his favorite subject,

Model Railroading.

He told us how many ways a person can have fun with model railroading. These can be with the research on the types of models, the historical aspects of the modeling, to just running trains.

Fred also told about well known model railroads:

Fred also told us what he has done and is doing with his model railroad. He is modeling Maine and Camden.

Trip to Eclipse Brewery

We started with our regular Monthly Business Meeting.

Following our meeting, we had a sumptuous feast prepared for us by Frank, which included a homemade cream of broccoli soup, followed by a variety of superb meats, cheeses and breads. That was in addition to our normal Cake and Ice Cream.

Once done with the food, we were bid a safe trip by Charlie and Walt as we formed our car poo;s to go to Eclipse.

Once there, we wasted no time in sampling the offerings at the bar.

Big Brothers - Big Sisters

Julie Karavan of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region talked to us about how Big Brothers and Big Sisters works to help young people at risk and how the organization fosters life-long relationships between the the young people and their big brother or sister..

She emphasized that what they really need is people. We can all help. It is a one on one relationship.

Core Programs

Community-Based Programs
Spending time together out in the local community is primarily how Bigs and Littles develop their relationship. After all, to change a child’s perspective of the world, it helps to spend some time out in it.
School-Based Programs
Sometimes the best place for enjoying activities together is at the child’s school. And, the best part is, it can be a great learning experience, in or out of the classroom.

How a Big becomes a Big—and a Little, a Little?

Before they make a match, they do their homework. After someone expresses an interest in becoming a Big, they go through an extensive background check and careful interview process. Then they match Bigs and Littles based on location, personalities and preferences. And they provide full support from the start, so matches can grow into lasting, fruitful friendships. It’s also important to note that the entire matching process is made possible through donations—they can’t do what they do best without donations!

What’s a Big and Little to do?

Each match is unique. Getting together doesn’t require a special occasion or expensive activity—just a few hours every month doing things the Little and Big already enjoy. For example:

• Playing catch
• Reading books
• Getting ice cream
• Going to a museum
• Providing advice and inspiration

For more information about all of their programs, contact Judy Spangler, Chief Program Officer, at jspangler@bbbssepa.org or (484) 653-1450.

The Upside of Downsizing

Jared Willmann

of Byron Home, gave us a very good presentation on the elements of moving as an established resident.

Byron Home is a family owned and operated senior move management service that assists seniors and their families when they need to downsize and move, usually after many years in the family home. Their goal is to lessen their stress by providing experienced, personalized service. They help you plan and organize, sort, pack, move, and get set up in your  new home.

Walt Baker Awarded Camden County Freedom Award for 2018

This evening we assembled at the camden county Board for an awards dinner. One of the recipients was our own Walter.

Trip to The Evergreens

Today we visited The Evergreens in Moorestown.

We were the guests of Andy Korman. After boarding the bus at our clubhouse, we had a nice ride to the Evergreens. Once there, we were treated to an extensive tour of the facility. we saw some sample apartments , met a few of the residents (some were members of the 65 Club), saw some of the activity rooms and the menu for the day.

Following that we had a very nice lunch and the chance to learn a little about the costs to become a resident of the facility. It was a very enjoyable day and our thanks to Bill Brown for setting this up.