St. Ignatius Seniors: Ideas to combat winter blues?

A big Thank You to all who came to the fundraising event for Willy Long, a long time firefighter, who was injured in a fall. This really goes to show how our community cares for one of its own.

The St. Ignatius Christmas Carnival will be Dec. 2 at the high school; at 5 p.m. is the lighting of the Christmas Tree with chili, hot drinks and cookies served at the Good Old Days Pavilion. There will be live reindeer, Parade of Lights line up and caroling.

If you want to suggest some type of activity that would help with the winter blues  – a craft night or afternoon, maybe a movie night, or coffee hour during the day – call us and help us put this together.

The Senior Center will be having a Bake Sale at the 4-H Bazaar on Dec. 9 at the St. Ignatius High School Gym. Donations are welcome.

The center is collecting coats, scarves, mittens/gloves and socks for elementary and middle school kids. We are accepting new and slightly used items to help keep kids warm during the winter.

I am sending out a plea for the Mission Valley Food Pantry. We need plastic grocery bags, empty boxes that will hold up to 30 pounds and cartons that will hold a dozen eggs. If you have four hours of time on Tuesday and Friday, we are in the need of volunteers to help clients from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy a meal at the center at noon Fridays and Tuesdays and 5:30 p.m. select Wednesdays. Menus are available via email, mail, or at the center. If you are interested in a take-out meal, please call 406-745-4462 by 10 a.m. and leave a message.

Main dishes include: baked fish, noon, Nov. 24; chicken-butternut squash soup, noon, Nov. 28; and homemade biscuits with sausage gravy, noon, Dec. 1.

We invite you to become a member of the Senior Citizen Center for a fee of $10 a year. You can join us at any age.

Gentle Yoga meets at 1 p.m. Wednesdays (call 406-253-0177); and Foot Hill Club gathers at 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays for snacks and cards. Our next Bingo will be Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.

The center has a computer available for public use from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays; and several personal-care items are available to share. The facility is also available to rent.

If you need help with transportation, respite and home health services, or other information, call the friendly people at Lake County Council on Aging in Ronan at 406-676-2367.