Serving Our Seniors Magazine January - March 2026

Thanks to the generosity of several private individuals, Serving Our Seniors is able to provide financial assistance to help cover the cost of medications on a one-time basis. If you are living with diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration, Serving Our Seniors may be able to help if you cannot otherwise afford to fill these prescriptions. Assistance is available once per year, up to $600 per person, for Erie County residents, ages 60 and older. Please note that scheduled substances cannot be purchased with these funds. For more information, or to request a Serving Our Seniors Application for Cost-Sharing for Medication, call 419-624-1856 and ask to speak with a Senior Advocate or Senior Advocate Assistant. Master Gardeners, Gaye Harris-Miles, Kathryn Goerig-Eastlake & David Eastlake, and Jenny Ortolani, are donating their time and expertise to teach Erie County residents, age 60+ how to garden in a bucket. Thanks to Barnes Nursery  for donating the soil, Green Circle Growers  for donating the plants, and an anonymous source for supplying buckets the gardening course is FREE. Each course includes two classes, each lasting 1 ½ hours long and limited to 8 people per class —  that’s 16 people who will leave as confident beginner gardeners.  • Course 1: is May 12 & May 19, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. • Course 2: is May 13 & May 20, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Both courses are at Serving Our Seniors, 310 E. Boalt Street – Sandusky. Gardening is more than planting.  It is about the joy, growth and self-reliance. Kathryn said, “We enjoy sharing the magic of gardening.”  Gaye adds, she does it “For the love of watching something grow and for the anticipation.” They all agree gardening is a fun and rewarding experience.   Gardening is fun, rewarding and an important skill — growing your own food.  Reserve your spot today! Serving Our Seniors reservation line 419-504-0585.   Leave your name, phone # and the name of this event – Gardening in a Bucket.  Registration closes May 1, 2026 — don’t wait! Master Gardeners Want to Teach You to Garden in a Bucket How Can Serving Our Seniors Help Me? Help to Afford Your Medications Jenny Ortolani, David Eastlake, Kathryn Goerig-Eastlake Since May 2025, Serving Our Seniors and Sandusky Recreation have partnered to give grandparents respite while their grandchildren engage in fun activities that build character and sensitivity to aging. We provide practical and moral support to the older grandparents. The Youth Recreation Supervisor, Ms. Tondra shares tips she uses for successfully managing behaviors in children, tweens, and teens. This service is free. In November, the program was highlighted before Sandusky City Commissioners. Serving Our Seniors, Sandusky Recreation, and a participating grandparent and grandchild explained the program. For details, call Dianna Hearn, Senior Advocate, at 419-624-1856. Older Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 7 Grandchild and Miss Tondra Roberta Amy Wendy Dianna Pam Anthony