Celebrate Our Senior Companions During Senior Corps Week: September 19-23

Across Chatham and Liberty Counties, The Senior Companion Program of Senior Citizens, Inc. is helping frail seniors stay independent. The Corporation for National and Community Service along with Senior Corps is hosting the second annual Senior Corps Week from September 19-23 to help shine a spotlight on senior service.

Senior Corps Week is a week-long initiative designed to create awareness and recognize the unique ability that Americans 55 and older possess to use their wisdom, experience, and professional skills to nurture the kind of change that makes a generational impact.

The Senior Companion Program (a part of Senior Corps) consists of a group of seniors who assist other seniors to maintain independence in their own homes. Companions assist with daily living tasks like grocery shopping, help provide friendship and companionship, and provide respite for family caregivers – things you could expect a friend to do.

In July, 66 Senior Companions contributed 5,480 hours of service in Chatham and Liberty Counties. And that number keeps growing. We invite you to join us in honoring these special seniors during the week of September 19-23.

About Senior Corps

Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency created to connect Americans of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation.

About Senior Citizens, Inc.

The mission of Senior Citizens, Inc. is to help people age successfully. For fifty years, the organization has worked to provide direct services that allow seniors to remain in the homes of their choice for as long as possible. Services are provided throughout coastal Georgia and include home-delivered meals, transportation, in-home support, senior companions, community centers, and adult daycare.

Thunderbolt Neighborhood Activity Center celebrates Virginia's 100th Birthday!

Ms. Virginia Eyler celebrated her 100th birthday with friends at the Thunderbolt Neighborhood Activity Center of Senior Citizens, Inc.

On this day in history, The Soviet space probe Luna 2 became the first man-made object to reach the moon, Theodore Roosevelt took office after President McKinley was assasinated, and Thunderbolt, GA resident Virginia Eyler was born!

Ms. Eyler, a client of the Thunderbolt Neighborhood Activity Center is celebrating her 100^th birthday today! The Thunderbolt center honored her with a special birthday celebration and gift from Thunderbolt Mayor Anna Marie Thomas. The media was even present to interview Ms. Eyler on her special day!

Ms. Eyler was so touched by the mayor’s presence and the celebration put forth by the Thunderbolt Neighborhood Activity Center. Mayor Thomas presented Ms. Eyler with a beautiful wrist corsage and balloons donated by John Davis Florist and Terrie Matthews, Director of the Thunderbolt Activity Center, gifted Ms. Eyler with a gorgeous gold and diamond circle necklace from the center.

When asked how she felt on her 100^th birthday, Ms. Eyler said, “Well, I don’t feel any different than I did yesterday!” But we’re sure glad she celebrated her 100^th year her friends at Senior Citizens, Inc.

City of Savannah Implements Registry to Help Seniors

Evacuate During Extreme Weather Conditions

The City of Savannah’s Senior Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program was created this year to help seniors and persons with minor disabilities* who live independently get transportation to an emergency shelter in the event of an evacuation.

To qualify, seniors must:

• Live in the City of Savannah
• Can no longer drive
• Have no one who can drive them
• Cannot get to a nearby bus stop
• Be able to ride a standard bus
• Provide their own care at an emergency shelter

Call 3-1-1 to be included in the registry or go to the City of Savannah's website (www.savannahga.gov) for more information.

*Those with special medical and caregiver needs must call the Chatham County Health Department  at (912) 356-2441.

For additional information regarding hurricane preparedness, pick up a copy of the Savannah Morning News' Hurricane Guide available at most area grocery stores and drug stores.