Mary Tritsch

Forty Native American cooks took part in the Intertribal Solutions annual cooking class sponsored by AARP, The American Association of Indian Physicians (AAIP) and the four federally recognized tribes in Kansas. The class is held in November each year to call attention to diabetes as November is Native American Heritage Month and Diabetes Awareness Month. The cooks learned how to make a healthy, nutritional meal using traditional indigenous foods.

AARP is honoring the 40 million Americans – more than 345,000 from Kansas – who help older parents, grandparents, spouses and other loved ones live independently at home, where they want to be. The unpaid care they provide – managing medications, cooking meals, driving to appointments, performing complex medical tasks and more – is valued at about $4.1 billion annually in Kansas alone.

AARP Kansas Advocacy Volunteer David Wilson provided testimony at the Atmos Energy rate hike request public hearing on December 1, 2015 in Overland Park. Wilson was the only member of the public to speak at the hearing which was live-streamed on the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) website.

AARP Kansas honored its 2015 outstanding community service volunteer during a luncheon banquet on Friday, November 13, in Pittsburg. Each year, AARP, the nonprofit membership organization for people 50 and over, presents its most prestigious award, the Ethel Percy Andrus Award for Community Service, to an individual or individuals who, through volunteer service, significantly enhance the lives of those in their community. This award symbolizes that individuals have the power and ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

By Gabrielle Armstrong, AARP Kansas Intern *

When Westar Energy and Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) asked for rate increases earlier this year, AARP Kansas pushed back on behalf of the nearly one million Kansas customers who would be impacted by higher electricity bills. AARP fought to protect their hard-earned money so they could afford to keep the lights on.

Did you know that every two seconds, someone’s identity gets stolen? One way to help prevent identity theft and protect against fraud is to shred your confidential documents.

If you live in or near Wichita, please join AARP for the Grandparents Park Fall Festival on Saturday, October 10 from 10 a.m. until noon. The park, located near Estelle and Kellogg in south Wichita, will be full of activity with live music, pumpkin painting, balloon art, face painting, free snacks, drinks and more.

If you live in or near Hays, you won’t want to miss our annual Western Summit on Thursday, October 1, 2015.

Help people and give your mind a workout, too…..