Elizabethtown Area Senior Center

November is here, bringing cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, and a wonderful opportunity to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for! As we enter this season of gratitude, we are especially thankful for the friendships, laughter, and sense of community that fill our Senior Center each day. Whether you've been joining us for years or are just getting started, you are an important part of what makes our center such a special place!

We have another exciting month planned with plenty of opportunities to stay active, learn something new, and enjoy time with friends. Our regular favorites, including Bingocize, Geri-Fit, walking, bingo, and card games, will keep us moving and having fun. We'll also be getting creative with autumn and felt wreath crafts, enjoying a visit from the Singing Nurse, and exploring the beautiful state of Idaho during Travel Thursday. Plus, we have several informative presentations planned, including Medicare changes, healthy eating, and other important health and wellness topics.

November also means the holiday season is right around the corner! We'll be busy preparing for our holiday bazaar and enjoying a special trip to the American Music Theatre for their Christmas Show. These are wonderful opportunities to get into the holiday spirit and make lasting memories with friends.

Of course, one of the highlights of our month will be our very first Friendsgiving Lunch on Tuesday, November 24th, at noon! We're excited to bring everyone together for an afternoon of delicious food, wonderful conversation, and friendship. Thanksgiving is about more than just the food on our plates; it's about the people gathered around the table. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate the friendships that make our Senior Center so special and, hopefully, begin a new tradition that we'll enjoy for years to come!

As Thanksgiving approaches, we encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate the little things that bring joy to our lives. Sometimes it's a kind word, a friendly smile, a good laugh, or simply having someone to share a cup of coffee with. Those everyday moments are what make our community so meaningful.

Please remember that the Senior Center will be closed on Thursday, November 26th, and Friday, November 27th, in observance of Thanksgiving.

From all of us at the Elizabethtown Area Senior Center, thank you for being part of our family. We are grateful for each and every one of you and look forward to another month filled with friendship, fun, and wonderful memories.

Wishing you and your families a happy, healthy, and blessed Thanksgiving! 🍁

As we head into the colder months, Manny will be available at the Senior Center during October and November to help with LIHEAP applications.

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is a program that helps eligible households with their home heating costs. Assistance may be available whether you heat your home with oil, natural gas, electric, propane, wood, or another heating source. LIHEAP can also provide help in certain situations when a household is in danger of having its heat shut off or needs help restoring heating service.

Manny Mosby is in his senior year as a social work major at Elizabethtown College. His field placement is with us, at GEARS, in which he is looking forward to the challenges the role may bring. He will help us with paperwork, eligibility, and logistics for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federal program that provides grants (which you do NOT have to pay back) to low-income households to ensure they do not go without heating and cooling during the summer and winter months. Manny will be at GEARS Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:30 A.M. to 12 P.M. every week. If you're interested in LIHEAP, Manny is happy to help!

Manny will be available for drop-in appointments on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30–11:30 AM to help you complete your application and answer questions about the program.

If you think you may qualify or could use some help with your heating costs this winter, stop in and see Manny! He’ll be happy to help you get started. 🏠❤️

We are so excited for our upcoming trip to the American Music Theatre to enjoy their spectacular Christmas Show! Please remember that the Senior Center will be closed on Wednesday, November 18th, for this special outing.

For those who have purchased tickets, we can't wait to share this wonderful experience with you! The bus will depart from the Senior Center parking lot at 9:35 AM, so please plan to arrive a little early.

We'll also be stopping at Cracker Barrel for lunch, so don't forget to bring your wallet and your appetite! We are looking forward to a day filled with holiday cheer, great food, wonderful entertainment, and, most importantly, time spent together making memories.

We can't wait to kick off the Christmas season with all of you who are joining us!

Save the date for November 14 and join us for a fun day at the Elizabethtown Area Senior Center!

🥞 Famous Bainbridge Lions Pancake Breakfast

Enjoy a delicious breakfast complete with pancakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage!

🛍️ Bazaar & Vendors
Come browse, shop, and support our wonderful vendors!

🎅 Kids’ Room & a Visit with Santa!
Bring the kids along for some holiday fun—and of course, a special visit from Santa! 🎅❤️

🛒 Looking for a place to sell your products?
We have tables available for vendors! If you know someone who would like to participate, send them our way!

📅 November 14
📍 Elizabethtown Area Senior Center

More details coming soon! But for now, mark your calendars—we don’t want you to miss it! 🥞🎅🛍️

This month, we're getting crafty and creating beautiful fall rag wreaths! Using colorful strips of fabric in warm autumn shades, we'll turn simple materials into festive decorations perfect for your front door or home.

Whether you prefer traditional fall colors, cozy plaids, or a little extra flair, each wreath will be as unique as the person making it! Come enjoy a relaxing time of creativity, conversation, and laughter with friends.

No crafting experience necessary! Just bring your creativity, and we'll have fun making something beautiful together!

📅 Please Note: Craft Club will meet on Wednesday, November 11th, at 1:30 PM. This is a change from our regularly scheduled week due to our Christmas Show trip on November 18th. Be sure to mark your calendars so you don't miss out on the fun!

At the time of writing this newsletter on October 26, our Advisory Committee has not yet met. At our upcoming meeting, we will be discussing several important topics, including:

• 2027 Travel
• Bazaar Cookies/Fundraiser
• Planning for our 2027 Special Activities

We look forward to sharing updates from the meeting in our next newsletter!

Afternoon Bingo – November 4!

Ready for an afternoon of Bingo, prizes, and plenty of fun? Join us on Wednesday, November 4, at 1:45 PM for our popular monthly Afternoon Bingo!

Gather your friends and enjoy an afternoon of laughter, friendly competition, and fellowship. ❤️

💰 Cost: $12 per person
Your $12 includes:
🎲 Bingo cards
🍪 A snack
🍦 A refreshing mid-session ice cream treat!

Whether you’re a seasoned Bingo player or trying it for the first time, we’d love to have you join us!

📅 Wednesday, October 7
⏰ 1:45 PM
📍 Elizabethtown Area Senior Center

Come play, win some prizes, enjoy a treat, and spend the afternoon with friends! We’ll see you at Bingo! 🎉

Phone: (717) 367-7984

Email: seniorcenter@getintogears.org

Connect with us on Facebook: Search 'Elizabethtown Area Senior Center'

Jess Raush, Director

Julissa Rivera-Santa, Assistant Director

Wayne Bream, Activity Assistant

This program is funded, in part, under an Agreement with money allocated by the PA Dept. of Aging and the Lancaster Co. Office Of Aging. A community service of GEARS.