Submitted by Maria Reed, Administrator

Christmas time is here…

Be sure to come in and join us for lunch throughout December. We will be enjoying laughter, friendship, and holiday spirit. Beginning December 1, we will draw every day for a gift in our “A Very Punny Christmas” series. A member has graciously taken the time and displayed her creativity to offer fun gifts for the month of December. Drawings will be held daily at 11:30 a.m. through December 24. (You must be present to win.) Everyone wins in laughter! We will have Bingo December 9 at 9:45 a.m. Come in for Bingo, stay for lunch. Bring a friend. This year we will have a giving tree set up in the center for donations throughout the whole month. December 22 is our Christmas celebration. We will be serving ham and scalloped potatoes for dinner and The Ladies in Black will perform some of your favorite Christmas hits! Tell your friends. We want a full house!

The question on everyone’s mind has been the funding crisis surrounding our senior citizen nutrition programs. As some of you have seen articles from other centers it has brought questions about Rock Port Senior Center. Yes, we are affected as well. Amended contracts were made available to us on November 20. Rock Port Senior Center is losing 50% of its contracted funds for congregate services and 30% of its contracted funds for home delivered meals. This means the center will have received all funds promised to us by the end of December. After that, the center will rely solely on contributions from clients, donations from community members, fundraisers, and other local funding options to continue to operate for the remainder of this fiscal year (through June of 2026).

Rock Port Senior Center has been very fortunate to have had the support of the community, the foresight of previous administrators, and continued support of local agencies. Contribution and donations, monetary or not, will be essential in the next few months.

Suggested donations if you wish to make a donation other than money include the following:

• We try to serve dessert at least once a week. Homemade cookies or cakes (serving at least 80).

• Large boxes of Idahoan instant mashed potatoes

• Large quantities of pasta (spaghetti, egg noodles, or elbow macaroni)

• #10 cans of fruits, vegetables, and beans

• Large cans of chicken broth, beef broth, cream of chicken/celery/mushroom soups

• Gallon containers of Miracle Whip and real mayonnaise

• Cake mixes (at least 5 boxes of each kind)

• Vegetable oil

• 10 pound chubs of ground beef

• Gallons of 2% milk. (Please call the center before donating perishable items.)

• Large containers of sour cream. (Please call the center before donating perishable items

• 2 pound bags of shredded mild cheddar or mozzarella. (Please call the center before donating perishable items.)

• Medium and large vinyl gloves (powder free)

• Swiffer Wet Jet pads

• Dawn dish soap

• Dawn Power Wash

• Fabuloso floor detergent

• Paper towels

• 8 or 12 lb. brown paper sacks

• We are currently in need of one box fan.

Volunteers again, we appreciate all you do! Your donation of your time helps keep our costs down.