SOWEGA Council on Aging plans summer resource fair

ALBANY – Officials with the Sowega Council on Aging have announced the agency's Summer Regional Senior Resource Fair to be held on July 17, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Sowega Council on Aging's 335 W. Society Ave. Regional Resource Center in Albany.

This free event, serving seniors and caregivers from Dougherty, Lee, Terrell and Worth counties, seeks to connect seniors with resources that are designed to improve the lives of the aging community.

A main part of the event is the inclusion of the Georgia Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program – a federally-funded program that offers fresh fruits and vegetables to eligible participants at approved market sites each year. Farmers Market participants also receive nutrition and health education on the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Senior Farmer’s Market portion of the Senior Resource Fair is based on the availability of local farmers and their crops. If farmers and crops are not available at the scheduled time, the Farmers Market portion of the event will be canceled, but the Senior Resource Fair will continue.

In addition to the Farmers Market, participants will enjoy free giveaways and can connect with other Aging Network Providers to learn more about services and activities to enrich their lives.

“We love events like these because they are at the heart of our mission,” ACOA Executive Director Izzie Sadler said. “We coordinate a system of services for seniors. That means SCOA is a resourcing organization – we connect people with the services and providers they need.”

To learn more about the Summer Regional Senior Resource Fair, visit www.sowegacoa.org or call 1-800-282-6612.

The Albany-Dougherty Council on Aging was incorporated in 1966 to meet the physical mental and spiritual needs of older people in the area. In 1979, in order to accurately reflect the 14-county service area, the name was changed to the Sowega (Southwest Georgia) Council on Aging. At this time, the organization was designated an Area Agency on Aging by the State Office on Aging.

Over the years, the agency has expanded to meet the needs of the ever-increasing number of older people in the public service area. The SCOA coordinates services for all people 60 years of age and older in a 14-county, 6,000-square-mile area of southwest Georgia. With counties whose total population ranges from 4,074-96,065, it is easy to understand the challenges which must be met to provide services in a cost-effective, but fair manner. The flexibility in developing service plans, given to Area Agencies on Aging by the Division of Aging Services, permits this to happen.

For more information, visit www.sowegacoa.org.