IT’S THE 90-YEAR-OLD MAN who comes to the Community Center in Driggs almost every weekday to participate in yoga or Tai Chi classes, and to have lunch.
It’s the 70-year-old man escaping the cold in his car, where he spends most of his time during the winter, to read the paper, eat a warm meal, and visit with other residents.
It’s the 5-year-old boys who’ve become friends because of their love of airplanes since their mom and grandmother have brought them for lunch at The Center Table, where they visit and share hugs with seniors.
It’s the 88-year-old woman who can’t reach her toes, who each month gets her toenails trimmed because it feels like a free pedicure.
And it’s the 81-year-old woman unable to leave her house who receives meals delivered to her home.
It’s these examples, and many more, why the Tin Cup Challenge matters.
Seniors West of the Tetons is fortunate to be among those nonprofits that receive funds through the Community Foundation of Teton Valley’s annual Tin Cup Challenge. Donations to SWOT given during the Challenge are partially matched because of Challenger donations given by generous members of the community.
The Tin Cup Challenge is SWOT’s single largest fundraiser each year.
Here’s what your donations help us do:
• Serve hot meals at noon five days a week.
• Deliver five meals a week to those who can’t leave their homes.
• Offer health, fitness, and wellness programs for free or a nominal fee.
• Provide programming such as art activities, field trips in a 14-passenger bus, performances from local school children, dance groups, and the sharing of travel and other adventure experiences.
• Offer entertainment through live music at lunches, as well as books and movies to borrow.
• Distribute food boxes from the Foodbank of Idaho and free food from the Community Resource Center’s Food Rescue Program.
• Spotlight the work of other nonprofits in the community with programs each month.
• Offer training about fraud prevention, first aid, cooking and computer access.
• Hold a monthly birthday celebration for seniors born in that month and allow seniors to eat for free.Organize community celebrations for major holidays and fun events to bring all generations together to benefit from the company of seniors.
BY THE NUMBERS
1,500 to 2,000 — The number of seniors living in Teton Valley.
2,809 — The number of meals served in 2018 at the SWOT Community Center.
816 — The number of meals delivered to homes in the valley in 2018.
MORE THAN 80 — The number of people participating each week in health education and exercise classes. Each weekday morning, there are either Fit and Fall Proof, Tai Chi, or Gentle Yoga classes.
OUR VISION
A facelift for our 12-year-old center. High-tech upgrades for computers and audio equipment. Funds set aside
