It’s an organization devoted to helping seniors.
Now, the Vernon Seniors (Old Age Pensioners Organization #6) is celebrating a milestone.
Vernon Seniors #6 was founded in 1956 and will celebrate its 60th anniversary at its Tuesday meeting with a little party.
The event runs at the Schubert Centre starting with a meet and mingle at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m., followed by greetings and messages at 12:45 p.m. There will be a musical tribute at 1 p.m. and the event winds up at 1:30 p.m.
“We pride ourselves on our motto of ‘Seniors helping seniors,’” said event spokesperson Edgar Wolf.
“For more than 60 years, we have been an organization of seniors working together for the benefit of all elderly citizens of the Vernon area, and to promote their best interests in all matters pertaining to their well being.”
The branch meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the Schubert Centre, with the party being the wind-up before a summer hiatus.
The branch starts up again in September.
Vernon Seniors talks about all aspects of seniors’ lives, including pensions, taxation and finances, health issues, home support, medicare and pharmacare, housing and rental issues, social safety, abuse, neglect, fair treatment and loneliness.
Speakers on such topics are brought in for the meetings which also include social activities.
One of the local projects Vernon Seniors originated, with the help of Southward Medical Supplies, is the Orange Bottle Program.
“We take a senior’s medical information and have them put the information on a paper and place the paper inside an orange pill bottle from a pharmacy,” said Wolf.
“The information includes next-of-kin, what prescriptions you’re taking and blood type. A magnetic sticker is then placed on the refrigerator door, alerting emergency personnel that medical information is in an orange bottle in the freezer.”
The group also presents an annual scholarship to a high school student, participates in the annual wreath-laying at Vernon’s Remembrance Day Ceremonies, makes financial donations to the Salvation Army, Community Dental Access Centre and Hospice House, as well as memorial donations to honour deceased members.
Vernon Seniors currently has about 50 members and Wolfe would like to see the number get bigger, with the age limit to join starting at around 50.
Membership is just $10 per year.
For more information about the branch or the milestone celebration, contact Wolf at 250-545-0075.