Your GCCOA December 2025 / January 2026 Insights is here

December 2025 / January 2026

Making an Impact Together

It has been another busy & productive year and we look forward to all that 2026 brings. We appreciate everyone who assisted with and participated in our educational and wellness programs and events and it was great to connect with so many new people.

The Savvy Senior Expo was a success, due to our wonderful presenters/ partners and the more than 100 community members who came out. Plans are already underway for the 2026 Expo and we welcome your thoughts, which can be shared via email (yourfriends@gccoa.org) or phone.

Over 200 vehicles came through for the October 25th Shredding Event and the 2026 dates are set (May 2nd & Oct 31st). Keep collecting those papers!

Most of our regular programs return in 2026 and several new programs are in the works. The Brain Blast events were a hit and three are on the 2026 schedule. Several new educational presentations will be added, focusing on heart and brain health.

Just over $1.3 million in grant funding was provided to the nine senior centers to assist with operations and to provide critical services such as transportation. Grab bars were installed in over 150 households and just over 1,600 seniors benefited from services such as bathing assistance, emergency response and meals.

We also received several charitable gifts to provide additional food assistance to known and new seniors during this last quarter of the year.

Unfortunately, we have had to lengthen our waitlist timing and tighten some program parameters, due to the increase in community contacts, the number of seniors we are able to serve at any given time, and of course budgetary constraints.

Together we will strive to do and serve more, but for today we proudly acknowledge the positive impact made through these efforts and people and made possible by the donors and property owners of Greene County.

Big Talk & Connections

Big Talk is a communication approach for skipping small talk to make genuine, meaningful connections with those around you – loved ones, colleagues, classmates, teammates, community members, or even total strangers. By prompting deep, open-ended questions, Big Talk conversations allow people to share life stories, lessons, and experiences, enriching relationships profoundly.

The Council hosts a monthly Big Talk conversation on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10 am in the Xenia office. The next conversation takes place January 14th. If you’d like to participate, contact Daejanna at 937-376-5486 ext 124 or Daejanna.p@gccoa.org

Senior Fitness Fun

Interest in Pickleball keeps growing!

If you have never played pickleball,

let us introduce you to the fun at

the Senior Fitness Fun event at the Xenia Community Center, 1265 W. Second St . All supplies are furnished. Other activities, such as Jazzminton and chair volleyball will also be offered on Mondays from 1 to 2:30 in January and February. Contact Jeff to register (937-376-5486 ext 112 or jeff.s@gccoa.org)

Special Thanks to the students and leadership of Legacy Christian Academy.

Thanks to our wonderful It’s My Money presenters: Jerry Mahan, David Peterson, Matthew Bennett, and Dave Cusack

Special Thanks to our Savvy Senior Expo Partners. It was a great day!

Weather Closing Policy

When schools are closed or on a delay, any Council activities in that community for that day are canceled. The Council itself is closed when Greene County is under a Level 3 category, which is issued by the Greene County Sheriff.

Council Offices Holiday Schedule

Our offices will be closed on Wednesday, Dec 24 and Thursday, Dec 25 for the Christmas holiday. Our offices will close at 12:30pm on Wednesday, Dec 31 and all day on Thursday, Jan 1 for the New Year holiday.

2026 Council Calendar

Among the decorations and gifts for sale at the

Holiday Open House & Gift Shoppe, we will have the Council’s free 2026 Calendar available.

A great tool to help you plan your year!

It’s My Money! It’s My Stuff!

Missed the fall session? We will present this popular workshop in 2026 at 6:30pm Tuesdays, March 3 through 24. Look for complete details in the next newsletter.

It's Your Money

Don't Fall for this Online Scam

What follows is a true story about a job search scam, but the underlying lesson applies to any scenario where you interact with strangers over electronic media.

Read more click here

2026 Senior Artisan Show Call for Entries

The GCCOA and The Fairborn Art Association invite Greene County Artists and Artisans to enter the 2026 Senior Artisan Show held at the Fairborn Art Association Gallery. Open to Greene County residents at least 60 years of age. All artwork must be original, created after the artist’s 60th birthday, and ready to hang (framed pieces). There is no entry fee and this is not a juried show. Deadline for entries Friday February 27, 2026.

Contact the Contact GCCOA for entry packet or more information: 937-376-5486 or YourFriends@gccoa.org

Donor Spotlight

Please join us in thanking these generous donors who shared their time and talents and financial gifts since the last newsletter.

In Memory Of:

Kathryn Fisk

Gleason Y Danford

Marc & Birdella Marderosian

Jane Mills

Naomi Trout

Vivian Van Ausdal

Peter Whitson

Donors:

Cindy Clark

Alison Corry

Stacy Donnelson

Nekeesha Foreman

Mary Hamer

Jeanette L. Johannes

Velma Joslin

William Kramer

Lauren Myers

C. Jean Nass

Tamara Pritchett

Janet Reuter

Joan and Richard Taylor

Don & Connie Weber

Bob & Ann Williams

deciBel Research

Benevity Giving

Kroger Community Rewards

Volunteers:

Susan Allen

Mary Lee Amlin

Diana Atkins

Cindy Burban

Deneice and Walter Chin

Pat Cook

Kyle & Stacie Davis

Jerry DeVoe

Leah Donohue

Barbara Hawk

Abel and Lisa Hernandez

Linda Johannes

Linda Jones

Stevie Kleman

Lynn Martin

Mary Ann McCaskey

Chris Middleton

Christine Mignery

Sherry Newcomer

Genel Newkirk

Debbie Patrick

Lisa Quesne

Barb Vandecreek

Ginny Vikmanis

Lisa Weinstein

Penny Wheeler

~ Important Info ~

For more information on any of these events, or to make a reservation, contact us at yourfriends@gccoa.org, or 937-376-5486.

◊ Holiday Open House and Gift Shoppe

Wednesday, Dec 10, 2:00 to 6:00pm, GCCOA Xenia Office

◊ Holiday Open House and Gift Shoppe

Thursday, Dec 11, 11:00am to 6:00pm, GCCOA Xenia Office

◊ Medicare 101 Wednesday, Dec 17, 2:30 to 4:00pm, GCCOA Xenia Office

◊ Christmas ~ GCCOA offices closed Wed, Dec 24, and Thurs, Dec 25

◊ New Years ~ GCCOA offices closed at 12:30 on Wed, Dec 31, and all day on Thurs, Jan 1

◊ Memory Loss Wednesday, Jan 14, 2:30 to 4:30, GCCOA Xenia Office

◊ Legal Chat Thursday, Jan 15, 2:30pm, Peace Lutheran Church, Beavercreek

◊ Caregiver & Parkinson's Support Groups Contact the Council for information

◊ Grief & Loss Group 2nd Mondays, 10am to Noon @ Peace Lutheran Church

◊ Weekly Programming with our Partners at Real Roots Radio, WBZI FM 100.3:

Boomers and Beyond on Wednesdays around 12:05pm

Partners in Caregiving on Thursdays soon after 6:00pm

To ensure you receive information and alerts, share your e-mail at yourfriends@gccoa.org, visit our web site to sign up for our various mailing lists,

and LIKE us on Facebook.

Greene County Council on Aging

937-376-5486

Committed to Seniors and Caregivers

Our mission: To promote independence and quality of life for Greene County senior citizens and caregivers by facilitating and supporting the development, implementation and continual improvement of a comprehensive and coordinated system of contact and care.

Visit our website