By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On Friday, Feb. 21, the Cazenovia Public Library concluded its Winter Break Explorer Day series with a pasta-making workshop in the Parish Hall at St. Peter’s Church.
Presented in partnership with Community Resources for Independent Seniors (CRIS), the program provided children ages 8-12 with the opportunity to make fresh pasta and share lunch with senior community members and library staff members.
CRIS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and coordinating supportive services that help individuals 55 and older to preserve their independence; to remain active and engaged in the community; and to live safely and comfortably in their homes for as long as possible.
During the workshop, CRIS board member Peter Barth guided the children through the pasta-making process with assistance from other CRIS board members and volunteers, parents and library staff members.
“We, as seniors, [love] to interact with the younger generation,” said Barth, who has experience working as a cook.
Following the hands-on experience, the group sat down for a spaghetti lunch that also included salad, dressing and garlic bread donated by volunteers.
“Partnerships with organizations like CRIS allow us to offer richer programming and introduce our younger patrons to the wealth of knowledge that our community members have to offer,” said Jenna Wright Martin, the library’s children’s program coordinator. “Karisha Solomon, the executive director of CRIS, approached us about expanding our partnerships, and we felt that an intergenerational program would be an exciting opportunity for our patrons and community members. We are hoping to offer more programs like this in the future.”
According to Solomon, connecting to the community is a central goal for CRIS in 2020.
“CRIS continues to strive to have intergenerational programs that will continue to keep our seniors vital and active community members,” she said. “We continue to accept ideas for collaborations that will connect the community. In the end, it benefits everyone.”
On Feb. 13, Girl Scout Troop 60761 and Spruce Ridge Landscape & Garden Center teamed up to help create Valentine’s Day packages — complete with cookies, cards and donated carnations — for local seniors, the police department and the fire department.
“We had a great response and the seniors had the packages delivered to them on Valentine’s Day,” Solomon said. “Knowing that a neighbor thought of them on Valentine’s Day and that the girl scouts earned their cookie baking badge really made it special.”
According to Solomon, CRIS will be sending out “call to sponsors” letters to community businesses in the near future to request donations to support additional intergenerational programs and to bring in educational speakers for its Vital Conversations series.
According to Solomon, CRIS will be sending out its call to sponsors letter to community businesses shortly to request donations to support similar programs and the Vital Conversations series.
Sponsors will be advertised on the organization’s website, in its newsletter, at events, or in flyers, depending on the donation level.
To become a sponsor, contact Solomon at 315-655-5743 or [email protected].
All events at the Cazenovia Public Library are free and open to the public. For more information about this or other library programs, call 315-655-9322 or visit cazenoviapubliclibrary.org.
To learn more about CRIS, visit cris-caz.com.
