Register or join and event or class, by going to the Calendar of Events, find the class or event, and follow the instructions listed. New to Zoom? Go to our Zoom Like a Pro page to find out how to use Zoom.
Strengthening Community through Companion
Services
GiveOrcas May 2-16
Help OSC’s Companion Services —Hearts and Hands and Buddy Check-In programs—expand its reach to seniors and adults with disabilities on Orcas. Caring volunteers will continue to provide regular social interaction, companionship, information, and referrals for some of the island’s most vulnerable residents. With your support, Companion Services will be able to continue to provide essential services to clients so that they not only survive but “age well on Orcas”.
Orcas Senior Center is asking the community to fund $25,000 for our Companion Service programs May 2-16 for GiveOrcas!
MAXIMIZE your giving to Orcas Senior Center by participating in these GiveOrcas Game Days:
Ben Franklin Day (Wed., May 4): DONATE $100 or more to Orcas Senior Center to help us win a $1000 bonus! The organization with the most $100 or more unique donations receives a $1000 bonus.
Unique Donor Day (Tues., May 10): DONATE $10 or more to Orcas Senior Center to help us win a $1000 bonus! The organization with the most $100 or more unique donations receives a $1000 bonus.
Message from Senior Services Council of San Juan County President
On April 21, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Senior Services Council of San Juan County (SSCSJC) voted to transfer the operational functions of its three District Committees to three stand-alone nonprofit organizations. The purpose of this decision is to better and more efficiently serve seniors and people living with disabilities on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands. We expect the transition to occur with minimal disruption to client services and business partners. Read the rest of this message here and here. Read the resolutions of the SSCSJC Board of Directors, go here. Read the press release here. For Frequently Asked Questions, go here.
Moderna Boosters Available Now
Moderna boosters are available at Ray’s Pharmacy and San Juan County for persons aged 50 and older or significantly immunocompromised, and who received their previous COVID-19 shot at least four months ago.
To register for an appointment at Ray’s Pharmacy, go here. For San Juan County, go here.
Questions? Call Elsie Pamuk at (360) 298-4344.
Free COVID-19 At-Home Tests
The federal government announced that every home in the United States is eligible to receive four free at-home COVID-19 tests.
Order your four free at-home tests here.
COVID-19: Be in the Know
To see the latest information about San Juan County’s COVID vaccination effort, including eligibility and announcements of vaccination dates, and to schedule a vaccine appointment, go here.
Could you use a QR code to quickly scan or a link for a digital copy of your COVID verification record? Go to WAverify here.
Do you know a community member who needs extra assistance with signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine? If so, help is available through a collaboration between San Juan County Health and Community Services, Orcas Senior Center, and Orcas Community Resource Center.
Please contact San Juan County Senior Services Specialist Jami Mitchell at (360) 376-7926 or Jana Webb from Orcas Community Resource Center at (360) 376-3184 for details regarding this assistance.
Keep up to date with the latest information about COVID-19 locally, statewide, and globally:
San Juan County
Washington State Department of Health
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization
Buddy Check-In
Are you a senior? Would you appreciate a regular phone check-in by an Orcas Senior Center volunteer during your self-isolation?
Are you interested in volunteering as a buddy?
Contact Jim Glozier at Jim@orcasseniors.org or (360) 919-9318 or click the button below.
Real Time Air Quality Measurements @ OSC
As part of its Air Quality Monitoring Project, San Juan County has installed a PM2.5 monitor on the Orcas Senior Center building.
What are PM2.5? PM2.5, which stands for “Particulate Matter 2.5, are microscopic particles that are only a tiny percentage of the diameter of a human hair in size (2.5 micrometers or smaller, to be exact). Their microscopic size allows them to bypass the protective areas of the nose and throat and penetrate deep into the lungs, potentially causing health problems. On Orcas Island, the most common sources of PM2.5 are motor vehicles, residential wood burning, and seasonal forest fires.
The box below shows up-to-date readings from the PM2.5 air quality monitor installed at the Orcas Senior Center. Any number less than 50 is considered to be generally safe. Click on the “Purple Air Map” text at the bottom to get even more information from the sensor and to see readings in other locations.
For public health guidance from San Juan County Health & Human Services for PM2.5 concentrations, go here.