Do you or someone you know need some basic computer training? As usual, East Side Neighborhood Services (1700 Second Street NE) has a program for that, and it’s FREE. Class schedules are listed below but, to participate, you need to sign up in advance. Interested? Contact Ellen Stavreff at 612-787-4095 to RSVP.

FREE Computer Basics Training (English language)

February 1: 10:30-12:30, Basic computer
February 2: 10:30-12:30, Microsoft Word
February 3: 10:30-12:30, Internet
February 4: 11:30-1:30, Gmail
February 5: 9:30-10:30 Computer Practice/Review, 10:30-12:30 Northstar Certification Exam.

FREE Computer Basics Training (Spanish language)

February 22: 10:30-12:30, Basic computer
February 23: 10:30-12:30, Microsoft Word
February 24: 10:30-12:30, Internet
February 25: 11:30-1:30, Gmail
February 26: 9:30-10:30 Computer Practice/Review, 10:30-12:30 Northstar Certification Exam.

Again, please contact Ellen Stavreff at 612-787-4095 to RSVP.

There are many important programs at East Side Neighborhood Services. Here are few you can add to your calendar:

FREE Financial Empowerment Sessions at East Side
Budgeting to Create Emergency Savings
January 14, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Learn how to use your current budget to build a realistic savings for life’s unexpected but sure-to-happen emergencies. Call Camri (612) 787-4068 to register.

Prepare and Prosper FREE Tax Preparation
Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings, Saturday mornings
January 23 – April 18 at East Side
Prepare and Prosper will provide free tax preparation to low-income individuals and families. There is no need to sign up – service is walk-in only. The order in which clients are served will be determined randomly. Everyone present at the sign-in time, which is 5:15 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 8:15 am on Saturday, has an equal chance to be served and to be seen first. Please do not arrive more than 10 minutes before the sign-in time. Those arriving after the sign in time will be served if there is time.

Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance
Mondays and Wednesdays January 25 to April 13
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at East Side
12 week class to reduce risk of falls by improving balance, muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility through coordinated movements in a slow, circular, flowing motion. $10 suggested donation pays for 24 classes. Contact Brenna Horn to register: 612-787-4055 or [email protected]. Tai Ji Quan: Moving For Better Balance is sponsored by the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging in the 7 county metro area.

FREE Tax Assistance for Seniors – February 1 to April 13
Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings beginning February 1 through April 13
AARP will be providing free tax assistance to low-income senior and disabled individuals at East Side. Assistance is by appointment only and may be made in person or by calling the front desk. Volunteer tax preparers will be here Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings beginning February 1 through April 13. Appointment times fill up fast, so if you know anyone that could benefit, encourage them to call early. (612) 781-6011

Twin Cities Snowshoe Shuffle
Saturday – February 6 – 9:30 AM
The biggest snowshoe race in Minnesota! Participants come from around the country to participate in this fun and challenging winter race. All proceeds benefit Camp Bovey, a summer youth program of East Side. For more information, visit www.snowshoeshuffle.org

40th Annual Senior Appreciation Valentine Luncheon
Thursday, February 11, 2016 – 11:30 AM seating
Admission by ticket only – Cost $4.00
Community members 55+ welcome.
Tickets can be purchased at: the Senior Food Shelf (1801 Central Avenue NE) or at East Side Neighborhood Services (1700 Second Street NE). Call 612-781-6011 with questions.

FREE Financial Empowerment Sessions at East Side
Strategies for Paying off Debt
February 11, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Learn the shortcuts that lenders and debt collectors don’t want you to know and begin your journey to financial freedom! Call Camri (612) 787-4068 to register.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions – Six week workshop
February 16 to March 22 – Tuesdays – 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Contact Brenna Horn to register: (612) 787-4055 or [email protected]

Store To Door Volunteers using Tablets for Shopping and Updated Online Ordering

Store to Door (S2D) partners with 500 volunteers a year to take client grocery orders over the phone and enter it online, shop customer grocery orders, and provide administrative support.  In an effort to stream line their systems and improve their customer service, Store To Door has made updates to it’s online order taking system and has added tablets to shopping. Store To Door is a nonprofit grocery shopping and delivery service for senior 60+ years old in the seven county metro area.

Store To Door recently updated its online order taking system -Volunteer Order Takers are assigned four seniors, calling two one week and two the next week. Order Takers use their own phone and computer/tablet to connect to S2D’s online/internet ordering system. The grocery ordering system has comprehensive list of Cub grocery items. Orders are entered into the system while the senior tells their grocery order over the phone. Volunteer Order Taker Julene notes “S2D staff listened and learned what is needed to make this [the order taking] process even better.”  This Virtual Volunteering makes it easy to volunteer at home, during a lunch break or in any other location where you have online access. Because of the dangers of snow & ice, Store To Door adds over 200 clients in the winter months which means they need 50 additional volunteer order takers.  Order Taker Training is scheduled for Monday, November 9  1-2:30 p.m. or Thursday, November 19  6-7:30 p.m. at Store To Door’s offices in Roseville.  There is a current need for Order Takers who can call clients on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays.

Store To Door is also busy training volunteer shoppers to use tablets as they shop client orders – Volunteer Shoppers use an electronic tablet to fill individual grocery orders during a shift at one of five Cub Foods locations (Bloomington, Crystal, Maplewood, St. Anthony, or St Paul).  Shopper shifts begin at 6AM and end about 10AM, Tuesday-Friday.  Volunteers do not pay for groceries nor do they deliver them to clients.

If you are interested in attending an order taker training or would like to learn more about volunteer shopping and other volunteer experiences at Store to Door please contact Carolyn Swenson, Volunteer Program Coordinator at 651-642-1892 or [email protected].

On Site Volunteer Order Taker Training Available

When:  Tuesday, July 21 or Thursday, August 6, 6-7:30 p.m.
Where:  Store To Door office, 1935 W County Rd B2, Suite 250, Roseville 55113

Would you like to help seniors have access to food resources? Store To Door, a nonprofit grocery shopping & delivery service, serves seniors, (60+) who wish to remain at home.

Would you like to make a difference for seniors? Volunteer Order Takers are critically needed.  Order Takers volunteer about one hour each week from home, calling clients and entering grocery orders in an online system.

For more information about this valuable program, click here.

Store To Door is a nonprofit grocery shopping and delivery service to seniors, age 60+, delivering groceries throughout the seven county metro area.  They are committed to giving seniors personal, reliable access to their choice of food and household essentials so they can continue to live in their homes. With the support of volunteer Order Takers and Shoppers they are able to provide essential services to 1800 clients per year.

Volunteer Order Takers are critically needed.  Order Takers volunteer about one hour each week from home, calling clients and entering grocery orders in an online system.  They are assigned four seniors and call two one week and two the next week. Order Takers use their own phone and computer/tablet to connect to our online/internet ordering system. This grocery ordering system has Cub grocery items in it and orders are entered in it while the senior tells you their grocery order over the phone. Store To Door provides online training modules. This volunteer position can be done at home or during a lunch break as you have online access. Every fall/winter we add over 200 clients which means we need 50 new volunteer order takers each year. It’s fun and rewarding.  Visit www.storetodoor.org  to learn more!

Volunteer Shoppers work with a Store To Door store coordinators at one of six Cub locations (Bloomington, Chanhassen, Crystal, Midway-St Paul, Maplewood, St. Anthony). Volunteer Shoppers shop individual client orders, (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) shopping the grocery orders, checking out orders and boxing grocery orders into totes. This position does not require driving as a paid Store To Door driver delivers groceries and collects client payment for groceries.

Volunteering inquiries for both positions can be made to Carolyn Swenson, Volunteer Coordinator, via email at [email protected] or by calling (651) 642-1892 and asking to speak with Carolyn.

Maintaining a home can be very difficult for an older adult living on a fixed income. Without services from a program like HOME (Household & Outside Maintenance for Elderly), Minnesota’s largest chore services program for seniors operated by Senior Community Services, many older people may continue to live in a home that is not up to their standards or be forced to move to a nursing home. The purpose of the HOME program is to help seniors to remain independent in a clean, safe environment by providing  accessible, reliable and affordable chore services.

In January 2015, Senior Community Services’ HOME program expanded to include Minneapolis, which allows the program to serve hundreds more seniors in Minneapolis, in addition to those already being served elsewhere in Hennepin County.

“Senior Community Services is pleased to bring Minneapolis seniors into our program. There is a growing need for services that help struggling and low-income seniors and caregivers maintain independence,” says CEO Deb Taylor. “Without this program, many seniors would have to trade their homes for a more structured, and more costly, senior facility. In addition, Minneapolis residents now have access to a broad array of other helpful services from us,” Taylor added.

Some of the chore services that the HOME program provides include:

• Vacuuming
• Dusting
• Sweeping/Mopping floors
• Cleaning bathrooms
• Cleaning kitchens
• Changing Bed Linens

For program details visit www.seniorcommunity.org/programs/h-o-m-e/ or call 952-746-4046