SENIOR SIDELIGHTS

Gathering Place will meet at Lord of Life Church, 550 N. Broad St., Canfield, at 11 a.m. Jan. 8. Mahoning County Green Team will present a program on recycling and information on items that can or cannot be recycled. Lunch will be provided by the Woodlands. This is a free community outreach program offered to all senior citizens and it takes place on the second Monday of the month. For information, call Bernadette Beler at 330-533-6045 or the church at 330-533-3531.

Girard Multi-Generational Center, 443 Trumbull Ave. will offer the following opportunities: Monday, mind games at 9 a.m., stretch plus classes at 9:30, and crochet classes at 10:15; Tuesday, yoga and Pilates ($5) at 10:30 and stretch plus at 1:15 p.m.; Wednesday, mind games at 9 a.m. and stretch plus at 9:30 a.m.; Thursday, mind games at 9 a.m., yoga and Pilates ($5) at 10:30 and stretch plus at 1:15 p.m.; and Friday, mind games at 9 a.m., stretch plus at 9:30 and Tai Chi ($5) at noon. Coffee bar every morning, 8:30 to 11 a.m.; fitness rooms open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wii gaming system and air hockey or ping-pong every day from 8:30 to 2 p.m. One-on-one computer or tech tutoring available by appointment. Assistance with Medicare, prescription assistance and many other senior citizen issues are offered by appointment with the center’s licensed social worker, Christine Bridgens. The center is a meal program site offering daily meals Monday through Friday through the Trumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs. Stop by or call for a menu and details.

Guardian Angels of Trumbull County, a volunteer program of the Trumbull County Probate Court, is looking for volunteers. Angel volunteers receive training to become advocates who reach out as friends to seniors who may need a friendly phone call, a visit in a nursing home or a visit at home. Angels also are involved in planning special events for seniors The next meeting will be at 5 p.m. Jan. 9 at Shepherd of the Valley, 4100 North River Road, Warren. For information, call 330-675-2521 or go to www.trumbullprobate.org.

Niles S.C.O.P.E. Senior Center, 14 E. State St., will host a Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. Mercy Health Neighborhood Health Watch Program will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday. Free blood pressure, glucose screening and cholesterol screening will be offered. Fasting is recommended. For information, call 330-544-3676 or stop in at the center.

Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice Center, 1110 Fifth Ave., Youngstown, has scheduled the following activities: Monday, Closed; Tuesday, strength and toning and brush, knife and needle club at 10 a.m., beginner, intermediate and party bridge at noon; Wednesday, watercolors at 10, tap class at noon, 500 bid card club at 1 p.m. and line dancing at 1:30; Thursday, woodcarvers at 9 a.m., Living Well Fun Day at Boardman Park at 10 a.m. and multimedia art and socialization at noon; and Friday, chair yoga ($7 or $5) at 1 p.m. Call 330-744-5071 in advance for reservations for all classes and events.

Ohio Living Park Vista Senior Center hosts Silver Sneakers classes that are available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:15 p.m. in the North Lounge. To find out more about Silver Sneakers, or to verify whether your health plan covers the program, visit silversneakers.com. If your health plan does not cover the program, there will be a small fee for each class. For information, call 330-746-2944, ext. 1214.

Senior Corps Retired Senior Volunteer Program, located in First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, 201 Wick Ave., is a volunteer program with the mission of linking volunteers, age 55 and older, with a variety of volunteer opportunities within their community. There are sites throughout Mahoning and Trumbull counties with opportunities such as senior companionship, transportation to museums, meal delivery for homebound seniors and construction. There is no maximum requirement of volunteer hours. There is a short application, and the program coordinator will meet with volunteers to match them with their preferred site based on their interests, skills and location. Volunteers can contact Deborah Cunningham, program coordinator, at 330-480-0352 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, or email dcunningham@fcsohio.org.

Trumbull Mobile Meals is seeking volunteers to prepare, package and deliver meals to over 200 individuals on a daily basis. Any interested may call Terri Dean at Trumbull Mobile Meals at 330-394-2538. TMM is a community-based service agency dedicated to providing a home-delivered meal service to Trumbull County residents who are homebound.

Volunteer Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a volunteer program that advocates for people who use long-term care services, such as nursing homes or assisted-living facilities, to resolve resident concerns or complaints, is looking for volunteers. Volunteer Ombudsman receive free training and are certified as an Ombudsman associate before beginning volunteer work. There are no experience requirements but there is a short application. Background checks are done at no cost to the applicant. Contact Max Bumgardner, volunteer coordinator, at 330-505-2375 for information and an application. Applications are available online at www.aaa11.org/volunteer.html.