CAZENOVIA — On Nov. 15, the Cazenovia-based organization Community Resources for Independent Seniors (CRIS) collaborated with Community Living Advocates and the Madison County Office for the Aging (OFA) to host the annual “Madison County Senior Fair in a Bag” event.
A crew of volunteers gathered at the CRIS Office at 6 Mill St., Cazenovia, to stuff 300 bags with informational materials for local seniors who are housebound or were otherwise unable to attend the Madison County OFA Senior Fair on Oct. 11 in Canastota.
The fair brought together various businesses and organizations to provide information to seniors and caregivers about services, programs, and products geared toward individuals ages 55 and over. The following vendors were featured this year: CRIS, Community Living Advocates, Madison County OFA, The Grand, Alzheimer’s Association, Nascentia Care, Crouse Community Center, Madison County Weatherization, ARISE, Hearing Life, Hospice and Palliative Care, Community Memorial Hospital, Aging Advocates, BRiDGES, Madison County Board of Elections, EPIC, Velocity, CapTel, Madison County Rural Health Council, Kinney Drugs, Silver Fox, American Red Cross, Oneida YMCA, In Good Health, and Carriage Barn Books.
“We had 30 volunteers from these businesses [and] organizations and community members to help stuff the bags,” said CRIS Executive Director Karisha Solomon. “We put out the information on the table and [stuffed] each bag as if we were at the fair.”
In addition to the materials from the different vendors, the bags were also filled with goodies such as candy, chip clips, jar openers, stress balls, magnifying bookmarks, pens, notebooks, and reusable bags.
The free bags were distributed to seniors via the Madison County Meals on Wheels program and the Kinney Drugs medication delivery program.
This year, Community Memorial Hospital joined the effort as a pick-up location. Leftover bags can be picked up at the Cazenovia, Morrisville, Munnsville, or Hamilton Family Health Centers. The Cazenovia Public Library also has a limited number of bags.
The senior fair in a bag event was sponsored by Wellcare and Reflections Management & Care, which helped cover the costs of advertising and the luncheon that CRIS provided to the volunteers.
“This event was started during COVID to reach our homebound seniors,” said Solomon. “It provided information but also a way to check in and say, ‘We are here for you.’ The feedback has been so great that we have continued it because not every senior can go to the in-person fair.”
According to Solomon, the number of bags has increased by 100 each year.
The Nov. 15 bag stuffing workshop concluded with the Madison County Senior Networking Group, which is open to any business or organization that serves seniors.
“It is a way to network and collaborate with each other in the industry to help our seniors in Madison County,” said Solomon. “We meet every month at the Loka Leaf Tea Lounge, and anyone is welcome to join. . . . This year, CRIS has grown tremendously with our networking. This has helped us build relationships with other senior workers as well as provide up-to-date information and referrals. The senior fair in a bag success is an example of how many businesses and organizations care about the well-being of our seniors.”
For more information on the senior networking group, email [email protected].
CRIS is a not-for-profit organization that works to identify and coordinate supportive services for adults ages 55 and older in the Towns of Cazenovia, Nelson, and Fenner. Its mission is to help keep seniors at home and in the community for as long as possible. Donations to CRIS can be made at cris-caz.com or mailed to P.O. Box 99, Cazenovia, NY 13035.
