AARP Kansas

The Kansas Food Bank has been busy distributing Bob Boxes in 24 counties in Northwest Kansas. The boxes of food, each containing about a week’s worth of groceries, are provided free to older Kansans who may need help at the end of the month to put food on the table. Not all counties have food banks or food pantries, so this is a way to get food out to people who may not otherwise have access to assistance. The boxes, named after former U.S. Senator Bob Dole who pledged $250,000 to the program over the next five years, are intended to help alleviate hunger among the state’s older population. AARP Kansas, through a grant from the AARP Foundation and Drive to End Hunger, is assisting the food bank in making sure Kansans know about the program. Bob Boxes will be distributed in additional western Kansas counties in 2013. The boxes are located at various locations in each of the 24 counties, including health departments, senior centers, etc. For more information, contact the Kansas Food Bank at 316-265-4421.

Within the next several months, residents of the Tri-S Neighborhood in Wichita will be seeing the new grandparent park in their area come to life. AARP Kansas State Director Maren Turner and Interim Volunteer State President Ann Garvin were on hand November 9 to break ground for the park, a partnership of AARP Kansas, the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA), the City of Wichita and the Tri-S Neighborhood Association, which consists of residents of the Schweiter, Schweiter East and Sunnyside neighborhoods.

AARP Kansas honored its 2012 outstanding community service volunteer during a luncheon banquet in Emporia on November 7. Each year, AARP 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.

AARP Kansas is thrilled to have two Kansans serving AARP on the national level. Joan Ruff of Mission Woods was recently appointed to a six year term on the AARP Board of Directors. After serving as a lawyer in private practice, Ruff became head tax attorney for an oil and gas company and later served in executive management at Zurich Financial Services and H&R Block.

Washin gton, DC – AARP Chief Executive Officer A. Barry Rand sent a letter opposing any further extension of the Social Security payroll tax holiday to Members of Congress and the White House today. The text of the letter follows.

http://www.ksinsurance.org/gpa/alerts/2012/Med_Part_D-Med_Adv_consumer_alert_10-12.pdf