Volume 10 | July 29, 2020

The Heyman Interages ® Center is a program of JCA® - Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington.

THE INTERAGES CONNECTOR STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING HOME

Staying in Touch Hello JCA Interages Volunteers, We hope, in the height of summer, this newsletter finds you cool, enjoying delicious seasonal fruit and sitting under in the shade of an old tree or a frosty air conditioner. With longer days and shorter nights there is more time for opportunity and partnerships. We are pleased to share news of success. During summer programming, the Heyman Interages Center partnered with the Montgomery County Public Library, The Kensington Club, Gaithersburg Middle School, and Passion for Learning. Our volunteers have: shared a book on current events with middle school students; participated in pen pal exchanges between seniors and youth; appreciated art and music with high school students, volunteers, and those experiencing early stage dementia; and helped hone career building skills. It has been a fruitful summer and we look forward to announcing fall programming for which plans are underway.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNIES SEEC PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERAGES:SEEKING VOLUNTEERS We are excited to let you know about a new, exciting opportunity to support adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The Heyman Interages Center is now partnering with SEEC. SEEC respects and assists people with developmental disabilities as they direct their lives towards work, relationships, recreation, and personal development. Interages volunteers can help by: Co-Facilitating virtual Hangouts in which SEEC staff members and participants discuss a variety of topics; Speaking about one's own job experience with a small group of adults with IDD; Being on a panel of mock interviewers interviewing participants, then highlight strengths and areas of improvement. Volunteers are needed for a weekly or bi-weekly participation for one month or more. For more information contact: [email protected] SHARE FROM A DISTANCE IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS We are excited to let you know about a new, exciting opportunity to build relationships with youth during this difficult time when so many of us are isolated and eager to make connections. Through our SHARE From a Distance program, we are making intergenerational connections from a distance by matching up pen pals. Only first names are given and all correspondence is filtered through JCA staff. You can choose to write to youth via email or postal mail.  If you have any questions or would like to be matched up with an interested young person, please email  [email protected] .   We have a list of interested young people eager to be matched up with a pen pal. Thank you for your time and consideration!

************************ PLEASE FILL IN THESE TWO SURVEYS. YOUR RESPONSES WILL HELP INFORM INTERAGES PROGRAMMING FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. Please take a moment to fill in this brief online Volunteer Interest Update survey. Click here. This will help us find a good Interages programming fit. Thank you!! The Heyman Interages Center will be offering to volunteers learning opportunities in a variety of areas including technology, as well as best practices for tutoring and reading with children. We would love to learn more about your interests for classes and workshops. Please fill in this related SURVEY.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Coffee Clubs [held twice a month] Wednesday August 5th, 2020 @ 2:00 pm. Register Here . Meet with Interages staff members via Zoom. We would love to talk with you and learn about your volunteer experience, your ideas for programming, and ideas for partnering organizations.

Let's Stay Healthy and Safe

There is a voluntary recall of a number of hand sanitizers. AARP provides more detail here. Also, the FDA warns against hand sanitizer with Methanol. For more information updated regularly, click here . ---------------------------------- H ere are seven myths about face masks. And, here are answers to questions about lowering your mask, like to take a drink. More answers here . ---------------------------------- Two additional Covid-19 testing sites are open in Montgomery County. For more information click here .

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Update The school year will begin with virtual learning for MCPS students on August 31. MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith on Tuesday said education will remain virtual until Jan. 29, 2021, at the earliest. For more information, click here . National Zoo and Udvar Hazy Air and Space Center reopen! The National Zoo has reopened! Visitors are required to  reserve passes online ahead of time  and only a limited number of people were allowed in at once. The Udvar-Hazy Center is now open. They are also requiring each visitor to reserve a   free timed-entry pass  and to follow the safety requirements

“We’re one people, and we all live in the same house. Not the American house, but the world house.” *John Lewis

Just 4 Fun

 Let's Laugh GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED: 1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats. 2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair. 3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person. 4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato. 5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food. 6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair. 7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time. 8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. 9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts. 10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.

Let’s Be Creative

This how-to video is an easy guide to growing your own vegetables, using scraps and right in your own kitchen. Middle schoolers started an outdoor movie viewing business. Bringing the equipment to customers for a rental fee, these creative kids are a success. Click here .

Lets Be Inspired Music can inspire and move us during these trying times. We hope you enjoy these melodies. By Goldford, here is " Walk with Me." By Maroon 5, here is "Memories" (Cover) sung by the beautiful One Voice Children's Choir . AARP has curated a James Taylor collection. To enjoy his music, click here . NPR offers six hours of soothing music, found here . AND After suffering from depression following a car accident, this Chinese farmer and his wife found that music and dance worked as a treatment. Here is a moving video about them; View here .

Let’s Make Something Tasty These fruit desserts showcase ways to use fruit in a sweet treat. There are all kinds of ideas described for you, from strawberry crisp to peach pie. Click here. 

“ Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

For your convenience, past issues of the JCA Interages Connector are available on the JCA Interages website .

JCA Interages Staff Indira Dingledine – Volunteer Manager, [email protected] Kathleen Dennis – Senior Program Director, [email protected] Rachel Lanman – Program Coordinator, [email protected] Veronica Penaranda - Program Coordinator, [email protected] Phyllis Solomon - Program Coordinator, [email protected]

Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington "Jewish Council for the Aging", "JCA", "Helping All Seniors Thrive" and "Interages" are registered trademarks of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington, Inc. Visit us at  AccessJCA.org .© 2020 Jewish Council for the Aging® All rights reserved.