October is LGBT+ History Month!YOU Are Part of this History!

We are hiring for our Senior Program!Help us find the right person!  The Spahr Center recently received a grant from Marin County to begin training the staff of senior residential facilities to better care for LGBT+ seniors. We are combining this effort with the Friendly Visitor efforts already begun to create a new halftime position:Senior Program Manager.  To view the job announcement, click here. Please share this information widely.  Finding the right person will benefit ourcommunity for years into the future!

Senior Picnic October 16 noon to 2 pm The Social Committee is hosting an LGBT+ Senior Picnic at Miwok Park in Novato on October 16, noon to 2 pm. It will be a BYOE event – Bring Your Own Everything – lunch, utensils, beverage, mask plus a lawn chair if you can.  Check out the flyer below. Thank you Debbie & Terry, Beth and Lolma!

UPCOMING EVENTS(more info below)October 14 – Your Sense of BelongingOctober 16 – LGBT+ Senior Picnic at MiwokOctober 19 – Games Day at Sam’s*October 21 – Breakfast at Sam’s*October 21 – LGBT+ History Zoom GroupOctober 26 – Women’s Coffee at Sam’s*Every Mon. & Thu. – Spahr Senior GroupsEvery Tue. – Trans/Non-Binary Support Grp. *Social Committee event, registration required

To join the Spahr Senior GroupMondays, 7 to 8 pm, &Thursdays, 12:30 to 2 pm,click the purple button below the Butterfly Heart or here: 

Join Group

New participants are warmly welcomed!If you’re zoom-challenged, let me know and I’ll work with you!

Topical Thursdays12:30 to 2 pm October 14When Did You Experience Your Greatest Sense of Belonging?Our overall culture was broken in ways that prevented it from recognizing and valuing us as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and/or non-binary people. We have created our own communities and families, worked to build our own lives and find others who do value us. That effort has made us strong, heroic in ways, and compassionate of others. Let’s talk about the sense we now have of belonging to community and share our insights into ways we can increase it.  October 21 LGBT+ HistoryWe have lived through more historical changes around our identities, it seems, than ever during the history of humankind. What stands out in your memory regarding those changes? Were you personally part of that historic change? Let’s talk! Support Group Mondays7 to 8 pm We catch up with each other on how we’re doing and have unstructured conversations focused on listening from our hearts and deepening community.

A Trans/Non-Binary Support Group is offered by The Spahr Center every Tuesday, 7-8:15, for adults 18+. For more information, contact Sam at swood@thespahrcenter.org.

The Spahr Center’s Food Pantry is open to seniors who need support in meeting their nutrition needs. We want to help! Items such as fresh meats, eggs and dairy, prepared meals, pasta, sauces, and canned goods are delivered weekly to people who sign up. Contact The Spahr Center for more information: info@thespahrcenter.org or 415/457-2487

The Social Committee has been consistently offering fun events to offset the boredom of the pandemic. They want to help celebrate your birthday if you’ll let them know when it is. Everyone born in September will be celebrated on September 14th at 4 pm on zoom.  They offer a women’s coffee plus a number of times to gather – now in person at Sam’s Place in Novato! – over games, breakfast and conversation. People wishing to attend still must register in advance due to room occupancy limits.  To sign up for their emails or register for events, click here. To see their calendar & flyers for October, click here. Here’s their flyer for the LGBT+ Senior Picnic at Miwok Park on Oct 16:

Vivalon Resources for Seniors  Whistlestop, now renamed Vivalon, offers many resources for us seniors, now listed in this easy-to-print one-page guide. Access to rides, food, classes, activities, resources, referrals, and more. Membership not required for most classes and services during the pandemic. Some in-person events are being planned. To get Vivalon’s listings, click here. They also provide access to resources including rides for older adults. Please note: there is a 3-week registration process for the ride program so register now if you think you may need rides in the future. Click here for their website.

New: Covid-19 Risks & Symptoms Q &A Update from CA Dpt. of Public HealthYou will find answers to many of your questions here.  Protect Yourself and Your Family and FriendsThe latest advisory is here. FEMA Assistance Programs Related To Covid-19:FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. (No income- or citizenship-related requirements.) Call 844/684-6333. More info here. Free legal assistance to low-income people affected by the pandemic includes help with hospital bills, estate administration, problems with landlords, and much more. Call 888/382-3406. More info here.

Building Community in the Midst of Sheltering-in-PlaceSee old friends and make new ones! Join us!The Spahr Center’s LGBT Senior Discussion Groupscontinue everyMonday, 7 to 8 pm& Thursday, 12:30 to 2 pm on zoom

To Join Group by Video using Computer, Smart Phone or TabletJust click this button at the start time, 6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:Join GroupAlways the same link! Try it, it’s easy!

To Join Group by Phone CallIf you don’t have internet connections or prefer joining by phone,call the following number at the start time,6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:1-669-900-6833The Meeting id is 820 7368 6606#(no participant id required)The password, if requested, is 135296# If you want to be called into the group by phone, notify Bill Blackburn at 415/450-5339

California Department of Aging ResourcesThe CDA has a website that is packed with information and resources relevant to the lives of seniors in our state. From Covid-19 updates to more general care for age-related health issues, access to legal assistance to getting home-delivered meals to help with housing, you may well find answers to your questions by clicking: here.

Adult and Aging Service’s Information and Assistance Line, providing information and referrals to the full range of services available to older adults, adults with disabilities and their family caregivers, has a new phone number and email address: 415/473-INFO (4636) 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays473INFO@marincounty.org

Questions? Assistance?  We have resources and volunteers for:grocery deliveryfood assistancehelp with technology issues such as using zoomproviding weekly comfort calls to check in on youplus more! Bill BlackburnLGBTQ Senior Program Coordinatorbblackburn@thespahrcenter.org415/450-5339