2021-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Council on Aging minibus transportation The Council on Aging wishes to thank the Town service operated throughout the entire year, with Manager and Assistant Town Manager, and all the continued safety and cleaning procedures as a result of other Town departments which provide support and the pandemic. 1,497 individual passenger trips for assistance to the Council on Aging department, the Mashpee seniors were provided with 7,534 miles Mashpee Senior Center, and the Mashpee senior driven. Seniors were provided with a safe and reliable community. In December 2021 Council on Aging means of transportation to fulfill their essential needs Director Lynne Waterman announced her retirement to medical and dental appointments, grocery stores, after thirty-three years with the Mashpee Council on pharmacies,banks, etc. Aging. She would like to publicly express her gratitude to the seniors of Mashpee for their support and During the year, some Council on Aging kindness over the years. volunteer activities resumed, although not all, due to the pandemic. As a result, our Volunteer Coordinator Respectfully submitted, focused on contacting our approximately one hundred David Egel, Chairman and fifty volunteers, to understand their interest and Marijo Gorney, Vice-Chairperson availability in volunteering at a later date. She also Virginia McIntyre, Treasurer informed them of virtual volunteer opportunities and Jean Noussee, Secretary referred them to other local organizations such as the Michael Murphy Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps, Elder Services of Rachel Hodgman Cape Cod and the Islands meals on wheels program, Norah McCormick and the Friends of the Mashpee Council on Aging thrift Colleen Meehan shop. Once again, we are so grateful for the efforts, Merrill Blum dedication, and the support of the Friends' leaders Lynne Waterman, Director Eleana Janik and Beatrice Apfel, and of all their volunteers. In 2021 Mashpee Council on Aging Director Report of the Lynne Waterman continued to serve as the Co-chair of Cultural Council COAST (Cape Cod Councils on Aging/Senior Center Directors), and as the Chair of the Mashpee Human Services committee. She also participated in meetings To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the with COAST and staffs from Barnstable County Health Citizens of the Town of Mashpee and Human Services and Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, to promote a regional effort to help The Mashpee Cultural Council is part of a older adults to continue to cope with the pandemic. network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 She participated in meetings conducted by the cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Massachusetts Councils on Aging Association and Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, for network in the nation, supporting thousands of COA staff throughout the State, to discuss topics and community-based projects in the arts, sciences, and issues related to the pandemic and its impact on older humanities every year.The state legislature provides an adults. annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to The Council on Aging continues to use part-time, each community. The Mashpee Cultural Council grant-funded positions to support its operation. Once receives numerous submissions and distributes grants again we would like to acknowledge all of our typically in the range of$200 to $500 to projects that employees for their dedication during another provide the most benefit to Mashpee. challenging year due to the pandemic. We especially appreciate how they adapted to so much change in the Recipients are given one year to use the funds, work environment and with our operations. Our staff's and unused funds are added to the next allowable grant flexibility, positive attitude, and genuine care and cycle. In FY21,the Mashpee Cultural Council awarded concern for Mashpee's seniors is an asset to the Town 12 grants totaling over$6,400 for cultural programs in of Mashpee. Mashpee. 103