Highlights of December events
Volunteers Needed
Bayview Kitchen: Volunteers are needed in the Bayview kitchen especially on Tuesdays, but also on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Hours are flexible: anytime between 11 AM and 1:30 PM. We especially need help loading the dishwasher from 12:30-1: 30 PM. Contact Debbie Metz 360-321-1621.
Oak Harbor: volunteers are needed in the Oak Harbor kitchen! Help dish up and serve food, set tables, and clean up after the meal. Helpers needed Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11 am – 1 pm. Contact Lilia at 360-279-0367 or Debbie Metz at 360-321-1600.
Senior Thrift: Volunteers are needed to assist at cash registers and with processing donations. Call Cindi Quigley 360-331-5701.
Medical Transportation drivers: Help transport seniors to and from medical appointments. Mileage is reimbursed. Call Pat Weekly 360-914-3212.
Time Together Adult Day: Come support seniors and those with developmental disabilities through fun activities, music, games, and stories. Call Mel Watson 360-321-1623.
12 Days of Whidbey Raffle
Tickets are $5 each, and each ticket enters you in 12 separate drawings for fabulous prize baskets each worth between $250 and $1,000. Drawings will be Dec 1-12. The basket for each day has a different theme: Wine and Chocolate Covered Island, Cook It Up in the Kitchen, Golf on the North End, Family Night in Oak Harbor, Family Fun on the South-End, Caffeinated Whidbey, Reader’s Treasure, Spirits of Whidbey, Beautify for Winter, Garden Dreaming, Holiday Cheer, and That’s Italian. Each raffle ticket purchased supports seniors, adults with disabilities, and those who care for them, with essential resources provided by Island Senior Resources.
Tickets go on sale Nov. 1 at Island Senior Resources (Bayview) and at Senior Thrift. Other purchase locations will be announced on our website and on Facebook at facebook.com/islandseniors.
Free Music
Come listen to the Fun Band (and dance too) every Friday at 10:45 AM. Enjoy toe-tapping classics played by our own local, very talented, Whidbey musicians.
Random Acts of Kindness
This season of giving is the perfect time to do something special to improve the quality of life for seniors in our community. Show them your gratitude for all they have done with a small random act of kindness. You could deliver flowers to a family member, friend, or neighbor, share a cup of tea, drop off a loaf of warm homemade bread or a care package of shampoo and toothpaste, or bring them some fresh vegetables from the market. Try it. Your kindness will fill their heart…and that, in turn, fills yours.
Abuse Response Training
The Island County Health Improvement Plan for 2017-2020 has identified adult and senior abuse (also known as interpersonal abuse, or IPA) as being a major health risk in our community.
To address this issue, training is being provided on how to identify, support, and respond when someone is experiencing IPA. Members of the Island Senior Resources staff have taken this training. They have also become trainers to help achieve the greatest number of trained individuals across the county who can work together to address this critical issue.
If you are interested in the training, please contact: Nicole Marley, Island County Public Health at 360-678-7935, or Julie Spangler, CADA at 360-675-2232.
To learn more about the Island County Health Improvement Plan go to: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Health/AHC/Planning/Documents/Vision2020_120817.pdf
Holiday Food Tips
Over-indulging in sweets, fats, and salt during the holidays can leave you feeling tired and uncomfortable, lead to blood-sugar spikes and strain many of your organs. Try these tips to make holiday eating tasty and more healthful.
Holiday potatoes: cook and mash well washed, tender-skinned potatoes, with the skins on. Use low-fat milk when mashing and cut the butter in half. You’ll reduce the fat, and the potatoes taste good since the skins add so flavor, and fiber too.
Yams: Instead of candied yams, mash cooked yams with a small amount of butter or orange juice, and top with dried fruit pre-soaked in warm orange juice until soft.
Cranberry relish: Instead of plain cranberry (cooked or canned), chop or grind fresh cranberries with orange and a bit of the rind, add honey to sweeten, then add pecans for extra flavor, texture, and nutrition.
We wish you happy and healthy eating through the holidays, and all year long!