East Rockingham Senior Center: Avante’ Offered Craft Class at ERSC

Ressa and Cheryl from Avante’ at Harrisonburg, offered 34 ERSC members a chance to make floating candle arrangements using Mason jars, gems, glitter and ribbon on May 16.

It didn’t take long for the craft tables to fill when the supplies were distributed! Members really enjoyed adding their own personal touch and had a great time helping one another when needed.

Avante’ at Harrisonburg often sponsors crafts and health programs for East Rock and many other VPAS Senior Centers, and their generosity is always appreciated.

East Rockingham Senior Center: ERSC Members Got Fit & Healthy

ERSC members were treated to a double dose of health programming by professionals from Harrisonburg Health & Rehabilitation on May 14.

To begin othe day, Shelly Lam, Coordinator of Admissions, led 22 ERSC members in a cardio sit and fit exercise routine for about 30 minutes. There were chuckles among participants that “it was getting hot inside the Center” today.

Later, Lora Garst, Registered Dietician, offered lots of useful information on healthy eating and the benefits of vitamins and antioxidants. She had a receptive audience of 25, and everyone enjoyed the printed copies of healthy recipes that she provided.

Both Shelly and Lora are full of energy and members spoke positively about the time that was shared with each. Shelly typically visits each month for exercise with members. This was Lora’s first visit, but she said she would love to return.

East Rockingham Senior Center: ERSC BBQ and Bake Sale Raised $632.50

ERSC members and volunteers held two fundraisers on Saturday, May 12.

The original fundraiser, a Chicken BBQ with the Elkton Ruritan Club, included providing the manpower to lift and turn racks filled with chicken halves and carrying the cooked halves to the wrapping station where they were sold to the public.

This process requires at least a dozen volunteers, and Senior Center members are not allowed to lift the racks…they only assist with the wrapping. For their assistance, ERSC was awarded a $300 donation by the Ruritan Club.

As a bonus, the Ruritans allowed ERSC to hold a bake sale. Folks in line to buy chicken had to pass by a huge amount of homemade breads, rolls, decorated cakes, and cookies, all for sale. Saturday’s bake sale netted $287.50, and cash donations toward the bake sale totaled $45.00.

Our grand total for the BBQ and bake sale was $632.50.

ERSC was fortunate to have two members from our Local Council to help with the BBQ, Chair Allison Morris and member Barry Elwood. Also, Thomas Holland, whose mother attends the Center, and Dennis Wheeler, whose grandmother is a member, also assisted for the first time during the BBQ. Joshua Gooden, son of ERSC Director Lisa Gooden was a trooper and assisted the entire time from 7am till the end at 1pm. HR RD Cathie Galvin also helped, as well as 23 other volunteers who either showed up the day of the event or dropped off delectable homemade goodies.

The next engagement with the Ruritans is September 8, and the ERSC is one of the few groups that is offered two annual opportunities to partner with the Elkton Ruritan Club.