I want to say, thank you to everyone who reached out, signed the card, and sent kind words after my mother-in-law passed away on March 16, after a long battle with cancer. She was a remarkable woman, married to her husband for over 40 years, raising two wonderful sons, and never failing to make us laugh. We are all going to miss her terribly.
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, celebrating the impact that volunteers have on our lives and encouraging active volunteerism in generations to come. The work that Sno-Valley Senior Center does, and the impact we have on the community, would not be possible without our volunteers!
With only 9 staff (including two Hyde Shuttle Drivers and one Chef) at Sno-Valley, the 185 volunteers that help in all areas of the center are the reason why we are successful in our mission to cultivate a welcoming, inclusive gathering place that supports, inspires, and uplifts our Snoqualmie Valley community to lead healthy, enriched lives through participation in diverse programs.
In 2023 alone, 185 volunteers contributed 13,353 hours of their time to making the Sno-Valley Senior Center the best it can be. To celebrate our volunteers, we are hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Event on Wednesday, April 24 from 4:00-6:00pm. Drinks, Baked Potato Bar, and Dessert will be provided. To RSVP, you can add your name to the list at the Front Desk or send an email to kiraa@soundgenerations.org.
Connectedness plays a vital role in supporting independence and aging in place by combatting isolation, loneliness, and other issues. Meaningful relationships and social connections have a profound impact on our health and well-being. That is why the theme of Older Americans Month in May is Powered by Connection!
One of the programs at the Sno-Valley Senior Center that best captures “Powered by Connection” is our lunch program, Community Dining! Our funding contract was cut significantly this year, and we don’t want to turn anyone away. That is why we are focusing on our meal program GiveBIG this year.
Help us celebrate the power of connection and support the Snoqualmie Valley community by giving big(ger) starting on April 23 and culminating in 48 hours of giving on May 7-8! Our goal this year is to raise $20,000 and thanks to the support of matching donors like Michael and Gina (Cambio) Fisette Charitable Trust and Kimberly Smith with Weichert Realtors Pillar Northwest we are well on our way to our goal! Give at the link www.wagives.org/organization/snovalleyseniorcenter.
It has been so exciting to see the Affordable Senior Housing Project come together! The current timeline is that the applications will open in late Spring, with the apartments opening in late summer or early fall. As a reminder, we have hired a Property Management company for this project, which is responsible for the application/ screening process. The senior center has no say in who is accepted into the apartments and we are not keeping a notification list. The best way to stay up-to-date about when the applications are open is this monthly newsletter, our website, and our Facebook page.
I hope to see you at the Spring Dinner and Auction on Saturday, April 6! We did want to let you know that there has been a change to this event, and there will only be one seating, at 6:30pm, instead of 2 seatings. Tickets are just $20 for a delicious dinner of lemon herb chicken or prawns with pesto tortellini, and the chance to bid on wonderful desserts baked by our very own members! You can purchase tickets at the front desk or online at www.snovalleysenior.org.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out at 425-333-4152 or email kiraa@soundgenerations.org.
Kira Avery, Executive Director