Fall and Early Winter News

THE THANKSGIVING BOX PROJECT  

This past week at the Center was full of activity getting everything ready for last Saturday's Thanksgiving Boxes. We put together over 112 boxes for area families helping to feed over 500 people from around the county - and want to send out an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who participated in one way or another…

To all the folks who donated turkeys, and the school kids who brought all the fixin's, to the pie makers, the Enosburg Lions Club and individual folks for your generous donations, to the greeting card crafters, to all the volunteers who helped check people in & steer them in the right direction & help them out to their cars; to the clean-up crew and the Food Shelf volunteers who oversaw distribution of another 10-12 boxes the day after - many, many thanks! 

The increase in the number of requests for boxes this year may be an indication of a widening circle of families in need of food assistance in our area. While the Fairfield Community Center hopes to continue to serve as a food distribution hub, we feel there is definitely a need for some county-wide discussion, and fine-tuning of the project for next year. We'd like to see more involvement from towns outside of our regular service area of Fairfield, East Fairfield and Bakersfield. We envision a scenario where each town would have a coordinator to whom we would direct calls that come in, and these outlying coordinators would tally the numbers, and help round up products for boxes based on the number of requests from their own towns. With requests from families in Richford, Highgate, Swanton, and St. Albans this year, we realize the project has become a little bigger than we, alone, can handle. 

Please contact Nance Shaw if you'd like to attend a planning session (in January) to help coordinate next year's project to insure that we reach as many families as are in need of our help! 802-827-3130

SENIOR MEALS & AFTER LUNCH PROGRAMS

(the place to be on Tuesdays at noon!)

Where can you enjoy a delicious hot meal prepared and served by our vivacious and engaging kitchen room staff and volunteers, visit with your old friends, listen to Matt, our resident pianist, buy Monica's fresh eggs, catch up on the local gossip & play a game of cribbage - all for just $4.00? At The Fairfield Community Center on Tuesdays, of course! 124 School Street in East Fairfield. Reservations appreciated by calling 827-3130 and leaving your name and the number of guests attending the meal.

UPCOMING AFTER LUNCH PROGRAMS: (starting approximately at 12:30, and lasting about an hour. You can still get home for that 2:00 nap!)

Tuesday, December 3rd: SASH (Support & Services at Home) coordinators Lise McDonald and Kathy Morrison will talk about staying healthy and independent in your home as an option when you need help with daily living. Come find out what services are available and how to access them.

Tuesday, December 17th: NMC's Rehab Therapy Theraband Training. Learn about increasing muscle mass with this safe and inexpensive method of exercise. You can choose from several different bands with decreasing "stretchiness" as you gain strength and want to increase your workout!

Tuesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve): Day off for FCCA staff and volunteers! Stay home, stay warm, don't forget to hang up your stockings!

Tuesday, December 31st - New Year's Eve After Lunch Party! Join us for a year end gala with roast beef, a present swap and perhaps a glass of bubbly! Wear your sparkles!

Tuesday, January 14^th– An Hour with SERGIO. Vermont musician Sergio Torres has dedicated his life to traveling around filling hearts and souls with songs and laughter. His repetoire includes folk, pop, gospel, country, and show tunes, with a broad range of guitar styles. Whatever the request, chances are he can play it. Don’t miss this extraordinary show!

Tuesday, January 21^st– NMC’s pharmacist John Chesarek will present the lecture “DRUGS: How Do They Know Where To Go?” Join us as we discover the answer to one of life’s persistent questions.

Don't Forget the Holiday Craft Fair and Luncheon Saturday, December 7th, 9-3 at the Center! 

AND

The FCCA ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING will be held on Thursday, January 9th at 6 p.m. All welcome. Pot luck. Come get involved!