rainbow-meaning-on-colors-and-memes-1200x628.jpg

"Life throws challenges and every challenge comes with rainbows and lights to conquer it."  
-Amit Ray, World Peace: The Voice of a Mountain Bird

At St. Anthony Park Area Seniors we are tracking the latest news about the coronavirus (COVID-19) to best help and protect the people we serve and our volunteers.  We will be following recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html ) and from state and local public health officials (https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html).

During this time, our work will not stop, we will just be doing it differently.  On a day-to-day basis, we will be reevaluating how to provide help while keeping the people we serve, volunteers and clients safe.

These are our current program updates:

• We have cancelled all group events and activities until further notice.
• We will continue to provide rides to essential medical appointments for seniors who do not have COVID-19 symptoms.  
• We will offer grocery delivery.
• We can sign seniors up for free Friday grocery delivery from Speedy Market.  Call our office at 651-642-9052 to sign up.
• We recognize that people will miss getting out to our events. We have volunteers who will do phone visits so please call us at 651-642-9052 if we can connect you with a phone visitor.

We recommend that everyone follow the CDC recommendations for everyday preventive measures:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
• Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.

 
 The CDC has identified that the people at higher risk for COVID-19 are older adults and people who have chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. People at higher risk should:

• Stay home as much as possible to reduce the risk of being exposed.
• Stock up on supplies, including extra food, medications, pet supplies and other household provisions, in the event they need to spend two weeks at home.
• Take precautions to keep about 6 feet of space between themselves and others.
• When out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.
• Avoid any non-essential travel.

 
 As we navigate these changing times together, thank you for your patience and understanding. Let us know how we can help.

2020 Census FAQs.jpg

Go to the MN 2020 Census website with this link:  https://mn.gov/admin/2020-census/
Note:  To ask a question, click on the "We Count Minnesota" circle in the bottom right corner.  A pop-up window will appear where you can type in your question.

March 2020 Bugle ad.jpg

SAPAS Has a Handyman for Hire!

handyman.jpeg

Last fall St. Anthony Park Area Seniors took a survey and found that one of the most needed services for seniors was for someone to tackle minor handyman jobs.  The program staff and board are pleased to say that we now are offering a paid handyman service for seniors in our service area.   If you’re a senior and have some minor handyman jobs that you would rather have someone else do (such as fixing leaky faucets and toilets; repairing holes in the wall; hanging closet doors; or installing grab bars, handrails, screens, and door knobs), we might have the person you are looking for. 

One of his recent clients was pleased and sent the following comments to SAPAS regarding this new handyman service.  "We were very pleased with Jese, the handyman from SAPAS.  We have had a grab bar at our house for months waiting to be installed, but couldn't find anyone to do such a small job until SAPAS offered this service.  We had someone who was going to do smaller projects but after he did the biggest job, he wasn't interested in a small job like this.  Jese contacted us in less than a day, after we called the SAPAS office.   He picked up a second grab bar at Menards and had both bars installed in about an hour.  He was friendly, neat and most of all did great work at a really reasonable rate."

We see this service as key for seniors who want to stay safe in their homes as they age in place. Please call the St. Anthony Park Area Seniors office at 651-642-9052 to find out rates and be in touch with our handyman today!

give_mn.png

To contribute with a credit card online through the giveMN  program, click here to make a donation on GiveMN.

St. Anthony Park Area Seniors maintains a 501 (c) (3) exempt status.  Therefore, donors may deduct contributions to the program as provided in section 170 of the IRS code.

St. Anthony Park Area Seniors has a goal of raising $31,520 through individual and business donations as well as from cost-sharing contributions from people who directly participate for fiscal year 2019-20.  Our current fiscal year began on July 1, 2019 so our cost-sharing contribution and individual/business donation campaign began all over again. Through the end of February 2020 SAPAS has received $7,366 in cost-sharing contributions from those who have received services from SAPAS and $20,805 in donations from individuals and $2,505 from businesses.   This all means that we just need about $1,000 to meet our goal!

Cost-sharing sliding fee scale is available below.  

Cost Sharing Policy

Cost Sharing Policy

Cost-Sharing Sliding Fee Scale

Cost-Sharing Sliding Fee Scale

THANK YOU for your generous gifts. 

Wilder Research compiled this information from our community to guide our future planning.

Wilder Needs Assessment Report

Wilder Needs Assessment Report