Vol. 26 No. 23
Visit us on the web: www.lifeafter50online.com
Fundraiser looks to aid Emerald Towers residents
December 2017
Spreading thanks for Thanksgiving
By Anthony Welch A Colorado Springs organization is hoping to help 35 displaced seniors find a home for the holidays. The Coalition for Compassion and Action (CCA)/Blackbird Outreach is accepting donations for its fundraiser to aid seniors living in the Emerald Towers apartment complex in Colorado Springs. Sixty-nine residents received eviction notices on Nov. 8 informing them the building had been sold and they’d have to move out in 60 days. Emerald Towers offered $500 if residents could move out within 21 days. CCA/Blackbird volunteers conducted a survey of the 69 elderly residents of Emerald Towers and found 35 residents on fixed-income need financial assistance for rent, deposits, food and moving expenses. The goal of the fundraiser is to collect
See RESIDENTS, page 2
Courtesy photo
Representatives from Colorado Springs Safeway stores delivered 1,104 turkey breasts along with an assortment of side dishes to the Marian House on Nov. 20. The donations helped the Marian House serve an estimated 6,000 people. Safeway will make a second delivery this month to aid Christmas Meals.
‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ provides companionship For Life After 50
W
hile many seniors enjoy being able to live independently, the holidays can be a difficult time
for those who are unable to spend them with friends or loved ones. In fact, isolated seniors are at greater risk for loneliness, anxiety and depression. This is why the local Home Instead Senior Care office serving Colorado Springs is once again bringing
To donate
comfort and holiday cheer to area seniors through its Be a
To make a donation, visit:
compassionandaction.org
Santa to a Senior program. “Research suggests that feelings of loneliness can
holidays are a prime time for many people to feel lonely, and that may be especially true for seniors who cannot travel from their homes or have lost their support network,” said Jerri Schomaker, owner of the Colorado Springs Home Instead Senior Care office. “With Be a Santa to a Senior, we are able to bring them some comfort through a thoughtful gift that they might not otherwise receive, but, more importantly, by delivering them with a warm friendly face and kind words reminding them that their community cares about them.” Providing gifts and companionship at a time when seniors may need it most, the program is made possible
See SANTA, page 2
have a real effect on both mental and physical health. The
Phantom Canyon
Fitness After 50
A brew pub for all generations
Discussing digital fitness gadgets
See Page 4
See Page 7