AARP Virginia

Up to 400,000 Virginians who are in the coverage gap will soon have access to affordable health care coverage. Coverage will extend to help people who previously earned too much to qualify for Medicaid but could not afford health insurance, childless, adults, and others. This expansion will also increase jobs in Virginia by about 12,000 positions. The bill will save Virginia approximately $370 million dollars in the next two years alone. The money saved can be put towards mental health services as well as teacher, law enforcement, and behavioral staff salary increases.

The Roanoke AARP VA Leadership Team often works closely in collaboration with the Local Office on Aging. In June, the LOA had “Let’s Do Lunch”, its annual fundraising event. Tickets sold covered the cost of the lunch and also funded two Meals on Wheels for needy seniors. This year there was an all time high of customers who dined on site at North Roanoke Baptist Church. Entertainment was provided by Jane Powell, a gifted singer and local celebrity. A total of 3080 tickets were sold this year and while the net profit from lunch sales, donations and raffle sales is still undetermined, it is estimated that the final number will be in excess of $75,000.00. AARP members who helped with the event included Sylvia Journiette, Joyce Williams, Judy Dickerson, Mary Terry and Priscilla Casey. Others, not pictured, who helped on the day of the event included Russell Schiavone and Barry Weston. Still others helped with the thousands of boxes assembled and packing the lunches in the days before the event. For more information about the LOA and “Let’s do Lunch” click here.

AARP Virginia will celebrate the organization’s Diamond Anniversary on the baseball diamond July 12 when the Hillcats face the Potomac Nationals.

Are you age 55 or older and need help in finding employment? AARP Foundation’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) helps older jobseekers develop skills that will make them more effective.

AARP Foundation has a new program in Richmond, VA for jobseekers age 50 or older. BACK TO WORK 50+ focuses on providing jobseekers with the skills they need to compete with confidence for full-time, in-demand jobs. Workshop participants can also apply for a free coaching program offering a variety of benefits including job search guidance, employer connections, computer skills training and more. Since 2013, thousands of people who have received coaching through BACK TO WORK 50+ have found employment.

Join this FREE event on July 12, 2018, from 8:30am to 3:00pm, at First Baptist Church on Monument Avenue for a day filled with resources on how to be a savvy and safe senior, living independently. Participants will meet with local officials, learn from experts, attend workshops, visit sponsor and vendor tables, and network with others from across the region and the Commonwealth. They can bring up to 3 bags of documents for shredding to the Robinson Street Parking Lot before you take our shuttle to check in for Senior Safety Day. This is a conference for seniors on safety. First Baptist Church opens at 8:30am.

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital is recruiting Lobby Services Volunteers. Responsibilities for this position include greeting the visitor and guest coming into the hospital, answering any questions they may have and escorting them to their destinations within the hospital if necessary. This position makes the volunteer the first person someone sees when entering the hospital. The volunteer must be attentive, helpful and pleasant at all times. Volunteers work flexible hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

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In keeping with a nationwide AARP campaign, the state office is encouraging Virginians to “Be the Difference. Vote.” Virginia has races for one U.S. Senate seat and 11 U.S. House seats, as well as many municipal elections, all to be decided on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation, Inc. is holding a Volunteer Open House on July 24, 2018 from 5:30-7:30pm. This is an opportunity to meet with other volunteers and staff, and learn more about becoming a part of the team. Volunteers are the heartbeat of any non-profit and help make the Virginia Museum of Transportation a success.