By MaryAnne Beatty
During the summer, Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) is busy planning for its Fall Speaker Series season so we usually take a break during the summer—but not this summer! SSA is trying something new to bring seniors together in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. If you are looking to meet other seniors in your neighborhood, wanting to know about volunteer opportunities and programs available to seniors then join us every month at the Starbucks Café inside the Giant Food at 3131 Duke Street (in the Alexandria Commons Shopping Center).
Giant Food, one of our partner grocery stores for SSA’s Groceries to Go Program, has offered to provide the space and complimentary drinks and snacks for these monthly meetings. We held the first one in June and we had a lot of interest from those who participated.
The next Senior Coffee will take place on Wednesday, July 11 starting at 9:30 am. Come join us for some socializing, hearing about programs and events for seniors around town and get some healthy food tips from the Giant’s staff. Please note that we meet inside the Giant Food store at the Starbucks Café.
Since this is a new program, we’ll want to hear from you on what topics you would like to know more about as we move forward. If you would like to attend, just email Sandy Freedman, SSA’s Groceries to Go Program Director at [email protected] or call her at 703-836-4414, ext. 119.
Also, the Healthy Food Trends for Seniors program at Beatley Central Library will start again on Tuesday, August 28 at 2:00 pm and will run every month through November on the fourth Tuesday afternoon starting at 2 pm. Madison Reeder, a Dietician from Inova’s PACE program, continues this popular program with a different healthy food trend tip and food demonstration every month. Attendees will get to sample the finished recipe. This is a free event, we just ask that participants register online at seniorservicesalex.org or call 703-836-4414, ext. 110.
Lastly, starting in July applications are being accepted for SSA’s Senior Academy Fall Session. The first class starts on Wednesday, September 5th from 10 am to noon. The session continues every Wednesday morning through September. This four-week course is designed to provide Alexandria’s seniors with an opportunity to gain exposure to the City’s various government functions, learn about local organizations that provide serviced sand program to Alexandria’s seniors and help seniors get involved in the community!
The Academy is a free program with light refreshments. A special graduation ceremony will take place during a City council meeting at City Hall in October. To learn more or to register go to seniorservicesalex.org or call MaryAnne Beatty, SSA’s Director of Outreach at 703-836-4414, ext. 113 or email at [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you around town at one of these events.
MaryAnne Beatty is the Director of Community Outreach for Senior Services of Alexandria.
