Locust Grove Village to Celebrate Older Americans Month 2020: Make Your Mark
Locust Grove Village is set to celebrate elders! It’s May and that brings Older American’s Month, and time to recognize, honor, and encourage older adults to MAKE YOUR MARK! Around the nation, older adults make their marks every day as volunteers, employees, employers, parents, grandparents, mentors, and advocates. They offer their time, talents, and experience to the benefit of our communities.
For 57 years, Older Americans Month (OAM) has been a special time to recognize these contributions. For many years, Locust Grove Village has honored this special month with special events to celebrate and engage the elders within the campus and out into the community.
This year’s OAM theme, Make Your Mark, highlights older adults’ unique and lasting contributions to their communities—everything from sharing a story with grandchildren to leaving a legacy of community action. In the spirit of this theme, here are a few ways to make your mark this May and all year long:
Volunteer your time. Local schools, shelters, food kitchens, and hospitals always need support. Help a neighbor by prepping a meal, picking up groceries, or giving them a ride. Or, take time to pass on your knowledge. Why not tutor a student who could use extra help in math, music, or science?
Share your story. There are so many ways to do this, from showing your grandkids around your old neighborhood to recording your life story on video. Take a class and learn how to express yourself with the arts! Or, assemble a photo album of important moments in your life.
Get involved in your neighborhood. Organize a block party, or sign up for a book club or other social group. Have a green thumb? Small projects like planting flowers in your yard or cleaning up the community park have a big impact.
At Locust Grove Village, we will celebrate with a number of engaging events:
May 1 – The fun kicks off with the LGV Ice Cream Truck
May 5 – We’ll celebrate Cinco De Mayo with themed lunch and then serve Margaritas on porch
May 9 – It’s time to invite our family members and community friends to drive a parade through the parking lot – honking horns, waving signs and greeting the elders from a proper social distance!
May 15 – It’s time to salute the great staff members with a Courtyard BBQ
May 19 – We’ll have a Drive in lunch complete with Carhops, Milkshakes, and Cherry Limeades
KIDS… we need you to join in the fun also! Coloring sheets are available on our website, Facebook page or at the RC Grocery. Decorate it using your best creativity and return by May 20th. The elders will select some winners from different age categories.
Even in the midst of COVID-19 and the many restrictions on our home, we are looking forward to this annual celebration. Rush County — older adults have made and are still actively MAKING THEIR MARK on our communities. We are stronger because of our elders. Please join Locust Grove Village in May – watch our Facebook page for updates, pictures.
Locust Grove Village is a continuing care retirement community serving Rush County and surrounding central Kansas counties for over 40 years. For more information about Locust Grove Village, contact Suzanne Sauer, Community Coordinator or for more information about Older American’s Month events contact Brittany Suppes at 785-222-2574.