Esther Marsh arrives early at the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors on Tuesday mornings just in time to check out the delivery from the College of the Rockies Community Greenhouse. Esther has been sharing her time between Gleaners and TAPS for many years and we at TAPS benefit from her skills in the kitchen. Rosalie Wilson is in charge of the kitchen and with Esther’s help they provide nutritious, home cooked meals to the TAPS seniors four days a week.
Fresh vegetables and fruit from the Community Greenhouse arrive twice a week and boxes of cherries, apples, pears and plums from the Harvest Share Program have been appearing since mid August. None of this food goes to waste. Herbs and onions are dehydrated for later use, vegetables are used fresh in lunchtime meals or frozen for use in winter months. Fruit is eaten or packaged for seniors to take home every day. It is also frozen to be used in our famous TAPS pies.
Not only does this mean that seniors are receiving healthy meals and snacks, it also means that the cost for the TAPS program to operate is significantly reduced. Thank you to all who donate their time, talents and garden and orchard produce. Thank you to Harvest Share and the College of the Rockies Community Greenhouse staff and volunteers.
The living well program is continuing. Presentations have been given on stress management and avoiding financial fraud and abuse. Mary Underhill has been a stress management counsellor for many years and shared her knowledge with us in an afternoon of stories and laughter. The presentation on how to avoid financial fraud was beneficial to all. Other topics to be presented are improving memory, wills and power of attorney and self esteem. PhysioWorks and More professionals are leading exercises once a week and an occupational therapist and dietician have shared their knowledge and answered questions from the seniors. Living well will continue for five more weeks and you are welcome to attend. Please call Bridget at 250-428-5585 to register.
TAPS is taking part in Cultivating Creston: Developing an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. We are grateful that we have been invited to share our observations and vision for seniors with others who want to develop a strategic plan and process for creating the future we want for our community.
This week we shared lunch with Jennifer Krotz who has been our contact with Columbia Basin Trust for many years. Jennifer has helped TAPS successfully receive support from Columbia Basin Trust for the past six years, initially succeeding in getting funds to set up our kitchen.
Did I say that pie making is happening? Last week a team of volunteers made over 100 fruit pies and three more pie making days are scheduled for this month. The pies will be available at the Krafty Kronys fall craft sale and luncheon on Nov. 10 at TAPS. Come early to get the pies you want, they sell out fast. Esther and Rosalie will be preparing a great lunch, bring a friend, enjoy a good meal and get a start on your Christmas shopping.
Terry Nowak is an outreach worker with the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors.