Facebook Savvy Student

Mallard Run is proud of resident Thelma F. for her enthusiasm and effort to learn!  Thelma began Facebook for Senior classes in October with Volunteer Computer Instructor, James D'Angelo.  The excitement is unmistakable when she arrives at the Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center 30 minutes early for her class or when she makes new family connections on Facebook.  Keep up the great work, Thelma!

Join us Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in the Community Room for a fresh brewed cup of java!  Bring your own mug and enjoy a treat from the Giant Bakery, too.  (Second Tuesday of the month is excluded due to the Fresh Express delivery.)  

June is Bustin' Out All Over!

June will be here in less than 24 hours, and we are so thrilled with the Accessible Community Garden that we just have to show you what's growing!

Safelink Wireless Helps Residents to Connect

Safelink Wireless representative Pam is working with Mallard Run Residents to get them connected with free wireless mobile phones.  There has been a steady stream of residents waiting to meet with the Aim3 team of Pam, Mike, and Candace.  We are grateful for these representatives visiting our community and assisting our residents today!

What Do Mature Drivers (and Passengers) Need to Know?

Mallard Run Apartments was pleased to host a Senior Driver Safety Awareness Program for residents yesterday.  Our thanks to Corporal Hall of the Pennsylvania State Police and PennDOT District 8 Safety Press Officer, Fritzi Schreffler, for increasing resident awareness transportation safety as drivers and passengers.

100 Years and Looking Wonderful!

It isn't every day that we get to wish a resident happy birthday; it is even more rare that we get to celebrate a 100-year birthday with a resident as we did this afternoon with Miss Madeline.

Madeline is a delightful woman with a wry sense of humor, a gentle wit, and an impressive history as an artist, gardener, and mother.  We are privileged to have Miss Madeline call Mallard Run Apartments her home.

Gardening is Underway!

Gardener Bob is hard at work starting the garden!  Organic fertilizer has been added to the soil and has been turned and tilled.  Sugar snap peas, white and yellow onions, and radishes have been planted.  Stop by the accessible garden tables and see what is growing!

Bonus Bread & Pastry Delivery from GIANT FOODS Today!

Grab your grocery bag and stop by the Community Room for bread and sweets; Giant Bakery had an abundance of bakery goods to share with us today!

We will still be receiving our regular bakery resource tomorrow.

Our Residents Rock!

We absolutely love when residents are having a great time!  Everyone had such a great time singing and singing along that we're adding karaoke to our regular programming every month!  And remember, it's called karaoke, not "carry a tune,"  so if your voice isn't what it used to be, don't worry about it!  Just join in!

New Hope Abundance Arrives Today

Above is a picture of what the hallway outside of the community looks like while residents gather for the New Hope Ministries Abundance distribution.  The New Hope Abundance is serving an average of 80 residents per week!  We have a lot to be grateful for here at Mallard Run Apartments!

Generally, we begin distribution  2:15-2:30.  Please bring your own grocery bag to the Abundance Distribution. 

Fresh Express Delivers Nutritional Variety

The Fresh Express team did a fantastic job sorting and filling grocery bags for residents on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.  Above you see Shirley's smiling face as she leaves the community room with her items!

Here are the items we received from Fresh Express this month:  Pretzels, granola bars, spinach, baby spring mix salad, potatoes, canned carrots, spaghetti sauce, juice fusions, bread and sweets.  We are loving our partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank!  Even more, we love that our residents have access to fresh and tasty foods!

Fresh Express will return on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.  If you have not signed up for this program, please see the Social Services Coordinator before April 8th.

Volunteers Make It Happen!

We can't say enough good things about our exceptional resident volunteers here at Mallard Run Apartments!  The group pictured above works diligently each Thursday to unload the New Hope Ministries truck, bring the boxes into the building, unpack items from boxes, and set the tables for product distribution.  You wouldn't believe how efficiently they do their work!  Thank you to Dolly, Jean, Judy, Susan, both Paul K.'s, and Sal.  Your work is very much appreciated!

Take Out Club Enjoys Pizza Today

Today is Take Out Club day!  Personal pan pizzas arrived at lunch time.  Any resident can become a member of the Take Out Club simply by placing an order!  Next month we will have subs available from Ed's Grill.  Thank you for your participation!

Surprise Musical Performance!

AARP Tax Assistance - Week 1

Residents were ready to greet the AARP Tax volunteers bright and early this morning!  Please sign up for this valuable assistance.  Additional Tax Aide dates are:

• Tuesday, March 12, 9AM - 1PM
• Tuesday, March 19, 9AM - 1PM

If you need assistance with your Pennsylvania Rent Rebate, please remember to have the Landlord Affidavit completed by the rental office staff BEFORE going to your tax appointment.  If you did not receive a booklet, please contact the Social Services office to have forms printed.

Podiatry Clinic Begins at 1:00 Today

Podiatry clinic will be open for Mallard Run residents from 1:00 to 3:00 today.  There are three remaining appointment openings: 2:15, 2:30, and 2:45.  If you would like podiatry services, please contact the Social Services Coordinator by calling 761-5962.  If you are new to our podiatry clinic, there are intake forms that Social Services will help you to complete before your first podiatry clinic visit.

There will be no podiatry clinic during the month of March; the next podiatry clinic will be held Tuesday, April 2, 2013.

There are still several bunches of bananas available in the community room from yesterday's Abundance delivery from New Hope Ministries.  We're thinking of banana smoothies, banana bread, and banana pancakes!

To get you started with a quick and nutritious way to use bananas in a hurry, here is a link to Chiquita's Banana Smoothie Recipes webpage, loaded with 12 recipes for you to try!

Commodity Supplemental Food Program Shipment is Here!

Residents who are registered for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, your food boxes have arrived.  This includes residents who are on the CSFP Waiting List who receive the ElderShare food resource box.  Please come to the kitchen to sign for and pick up your food resource.  Thank you!

Visiting Nurses Offer Blood Pressure Screening

Mallard Run Apartments is very grateful for the partnership we have established with the Visiting Nurses Association of Central Pennsylvania.  The VNA nurses provide our community with monthly blood pressure screening and health education.  The VNA is also our partner in bringing the Annual Health Fair to residents each October, where residents have the opportunity to receive flu immunization as well as pneumonia vaccine.  We are concerned about resident health and we hope each resident will participate and benefit from the monthly blood pressure screenings.

Lunch Bunch

Residents were eager to board the Mallard Run shuttle for the monthly lunch excursion!  Today's destination was the Fox and Hound Bar and Grill in Susquehanna Township, an English theme-restaurant.

AARP Tax Days - Sign Up Today!

AARP Tax Aide, Mr. Turner, will come to Mallard Run Apartments on three Tuesdays in March to assist residents with taxes and Pennsylvania Rent Rebates.  The dates are:

• March 5
• March 12
• March 19

The sign-up sheet is posted on the community bulletin board to the left of the mailboxes on the first floor. Tax preparation services are offered from 9:00AM - 1:00PM.  Please sign up today to guarantee your spot for free tax assistance.

The White House: Behind the Scenes with our Presidents

On January 18, 2013, Arnold N. gave a fantastic presentation on Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement.  It was so informative and sparked a group conversation about where people were living during that era and how it affected them in their communities.  Residents enjoyed this activity so much, we are bringing it back for February!

Today, at 2:00 in the Community Room, Arnold will present information about different American presidents and what it was like in the White House during their tenure.  This is sure to be another historical and political conversation starter; snacks and coffee will be served after the presentation.  Please join us!  

Post-Valentine's Volunteer Appreciation Tea

We took a little time to slow down and enjoy the good things in life this morning.  Resident volunteers preregistered and attended an appreciation tea.  We enjoyed piping hot tea in many flavors, cheese crisps with soft peppered cheese, apple fritters, pumpkin cake, doughnuts, and cake pops, too!  We appreciate having residents who are happy to volunteer their time to make Mallard Run Apartments such a nice place to live!

New Hope Ministries Sharing Abundance

Residents are benefiting from the abundance sharing of New Hope Ministries!  A delivery arrives every Thursday afternoon, and resident volunteers assist in lifting, unpacking cartons, and organizing the items for distribution.  We are so grateful for this fantastic community partnership that boosts the nutrition of our residents, improving their health.

We LOVE our Volunteers!

Mallard Run is so very proud of our resident volunteers!  We love you, because without you and your volunteer efforts, we could not pull off many of the programs that benefit the whole Mallard Run community. Know that we appreciate your help with gardening, leading the resident organization as officers, helping with bingo, cleaning after events, assembling the newsletter, posting event notices, lifting, unpacking boxes, sorting, and bagging food resources, acting as floor captains, checking on your neighbors, welcoming our community volunteers, locking and unlocking the TV room, changing dates and information on our daily calendar board, maintaining the "sharing table" in the laundry room, driving to Giant to pick up donated bakery items, and so many more things!  Volunteers are the heart of our community!

Sharing the Love with Therapy Dogs International

Therapy Dogs International brings puppy love to our community every other month.  Today we were visited by Caesar, Rocks, and Milo.  We appreciate the volunteer owners/handlers who bring their specially trained social therapy dogs to mingle with our residents and staff.  It is truly a warm and fuzzy moment for everyone.

Fresh Express Brings Nutrition to Mallard Run Apartments

76 residents received an overflowing bag of groceries that included strawberries, apples, avocados, lemons, limes, granola bars, wholegrain bread, lemon poppy seed bread, and soy milk.  We hope you enjoy your items.  The next Fresh Express delivery is March 12, 2013.  We are really excited about our new community partnership with Central Pennsylvania Food Bank from which we receive the Fresh Express resource!