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Seniors of C-L-M Community Action ready to return to normal operations

Seniors tired of being locked down are ready to mingle

Senior residents at C-L-M Community Action are tired of being locked down and are ready to mingle, inviting area citizens over the age of 60 to join them for lunch and activities. 

There are 13 congregate meal sites apart from Avery Square spread across the three counties, allowing aging community members a place to socialize with peers. 

Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day and Nutrition Services Director Donna Alexander assured the Avery Square dining area would be decked out in green for fun recognition of the holiday. 

“We are having corned beef,” said Alexander, adding sides of cabbage, carrots, potatoes and brownies to the menu. 

Staff try to make each holiday special. 

“We have a huge Christmas senior dinner dance,” said Weatherization and Emergency Services Program Director Jess Johnston. “Residents can bring guests and family. The past couple of years we weren’t able to do it. There are trees lining the corridors. We put out a huge life-size slay and Nativity scene.” 

CLMCAA Resident Board Member Mitzy Robbins has been living at the center for nine years. Within the four floor living center are 53 rooms, with designated spaces for puzzle making, books, giveaway items, morning coffee, Bingo and cards. 

“I love it here,” said Robbins. “Older people have companionship and they see people all the time. We have a lot of activities going on. Game nights are every Tuesday. We have Bingo on Friday nights. We have coffee every Saturday morning. Every Sunday we have cards and dominos. After cards we order out and eat supper together.” 

Easter is right around the corner and Robbins looks forward to a special celebration with her peers. Alexander and her staff will prepare either a turkey or ham dinner.

“We also have mass and communion here,” said CLMCAA Finance Director Joe Nolan. 

Holy Name of Mary Father Nick Thompson comes out to provide regular sermons. 

While things are slowly returning to normal, Robbins is working to get more seniors from within and outside of the center involved in various activities and meals. 

“We lost everything we had because we were quarantined in our rooms due to COVID,” said Robbins, alluding to different events like the center’s monthly dances. 

Robbins hopes to bring back potlucks, which used to take place from October through May. The potlucks took place on the fourth floor of the corridor. She could not say enough about the recipes people shared and great food passed around. 

As of now, the center’s doors open for lunch at 11:30 a.m. every Monday through Friday. Senior residents eat at a recommended donation of $3. Outsider visitors are asked to pay $6. 

“We get our money from the U.P. Area Agency on Aging (UPAAA),” said Nolan about the donations. “It is a grant requirement. We are the County's Commission on Aging for Chippewa, Luce and Mackinaw. We provide all the senior services.” 

Seniors are not turned down if they are unable to pay. The money goes right back into programming. 

“There are meal routes upstairs that we deliver to,” said Nolan. “It has been a trend at all of our centers since COVID. Total meals have stayed the same but home delivered meals have gone up. Congregate meals have gone down, unfortunately.” 

Seniors outside of the center get food brought to their homes. According to Nolan, there were a total of 81,000 meals served in Chippewa County alone in 2021. 

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) delivers nutritious food to eligible households with seniors 60 years of age and older, at a household income below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. 

Another CLMAA senior program is Take-5. 

“A couple times a week we have Take-5,” said Robbins. “People come in and eat with us. They go out to eat pizza and up to the bowling alley.”

It is a respite care program, allowing the caregivers of homebound seniors to take a break. 

“We have aids that stay with the homebound individual on a case-by-case basis,” said C-L-M Senior Services Director Toni T. Phillip. 

The program specializes in working with individuals compromised by dementia. 

“People can drop their loved ones off between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. five days a week in Chippewa County, and three days a week in Luce and Mackinac counties,” Phillip said. “They (caregivers) can get away, and it’s convenient.” 

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in CLMCAA senior lunches and/or activities but lack transportation, Dial-a-Ride Transportation is available to help get to and from. 

Avery Center is located at 524 Ashmun St., Sault Ste Marie. Its doors open for lunch at 11:30 a.m. every Monday through Friday. Call 906-302-6481 or visit the C-L-M Community Action website for more information.