Connie Reese, center with a yellow shirt, is shown above as she instructs seniors how to line dance this morning at the Community and Seasoned Citizens (CASC) of Marysville. Later in the day, seniors can take part knitting at 11:30 a.m. and euchre at 6 p.m.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Jacob Runnels)
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For elderly people in need, the Marysville Community and Seasoned Citizens (CASC) Center works to give them involvement, interaction and food packages.
Director of Marysville’s CASC Anne Daniels said the center, at its current location on 900 Columbus Ave., has stood to serve seniors in the area by helping them exercise, getting them socially involved with activities and gatherings and giving them food care packages if they need them. For those who can’t pick up a food package, CASC’s volunteers will make deliveries.
“We serve a large purpose by keeping seniors active, advised and doing what we can to meet their needs,” Daniels said. “We’re not just a social organization; we’re an organization that allows us to help people.”
The Marysville group started about 14 years ago and eventually got its own building. Since then, Daniels said the group has been hosting small events, such as luncheons, cookouts, balloon watching and enjoying a morning coffee together. She said the group operates on donations, from the Mid Ohio Food Bank, the State of Ohio, Home Depot and other senior services entities.
She said through CASC’s food package program, food is collected from the Mid Ohio Food Bank and organized in 40-pound boxes to be distributed to elderly people on the fourth Friday of each month. CASC has volunteers drive trucks and carry these packages to those in need. The group gathers 215 boxes a month to donate.
One of the people who regularly volunteers his services to CASC is Mike Congrove. He began his service nearly five years ago, first stepping up to fill in for a board member who had died.
“I’m versatile. If someone needs help, I’m here,” he said. “The idea is someone always needs help. Sometimes they don’t want to ask for help, so you have to step in.”
Congrove, along with Daniels’ husband, Mel, volunteer to water plants, deliver food packages and drive people to medical appointments. Congrove said there is a need to help elderly people, especially in Marysville, because of the small amount of support they receive.
He said a couple of problems when it comes to providing assistance to the elderly involve the lack of information about services provided by organizations such as CASC. Also, some people think they don’t need the help, he said.
Though he can’t inform everyone about assistance they can receive, Congrove said he is more than willing to help anyone out because “someone’s needed to do this job.”
He also said getting other seniors involved with assisting with programs serves the community in a better way because “you can always do something.”
He said if someone can help someone out, they feel good about themselves, which includes himself.
“If you step in and give them a little help, it makes them feel good and it makes you feel good,” Congrove said. “I like to help people, who need help, and will help themselves. I like to help people… whatever people need, I’ll help.”
The food program is eligible for people age 60 or older and have a monthly income of no more than $1,308 for a single household (the monthly income requirement is no more than $1,760 for couples).
A person must have proof of their age before signing up but they don’t have to prove their income amount.
To get involved with the food program or other activities, residents can call CASC at 937-644-9801.