What Maricopa Seniors are all about

You have seen the name, but some of you do not know who we are or what we are about. We hope to change all that; we want to improve the senior’s life in Maricopa, not by our words but by our deeds.

It will take time to do this, but time is something seniors have; time is something we can share with others.
 
Let me tell you my view of the Maricopa Seniors, Inc.’s corporation. When it was decided that money needed to be raised for a senior center in Maricopa, Therese Starkey and Helen Brown stepped up to help. They found out that the only way they could raise enough money to get a senior center was to be incorporated. That is when I joined the other two ladies. We formed a non-profit corporation (our 2009 – 990 form, filed with the government, is public record) to help the seniors in Maricopa. 

We have over 6,000 seniors (over 55) who live in Maricopa and the surrounding areas. Some have all that they need, and yet others need help. Some need friendship; others need a hand to reach out to touch them. Still others need nothing but someday they may, and we hope to be there for everyone.
 
We started by setting up a group to get Maricopa’s small businesses to give discounts to seniors via the Infinity Card. The card costs $7 per year, and, as of today, over 100 vendors are offering discounts in the Maricopa area. 

We also had a successful home-based business expo in 2009. In March we had a Home, Garden & Business Expo at Pacana Park. We hope to have this again next year.
 
We have started a TRIAD program here in Maricopa.  It is just now getting started and, with the help of the police and fire departments of Maricopa, it, too, will help many of our shut-in seniors. We are starting with the Pendant of Life program, and in the fall we will offer health and benefit speakers such as doctors, firefighters, police and safety personnel.
 
There is much confusion between the many groups for seniors in Maricopa, all doing different things. We decided we were not doing enough and wanted to do more than drive a friend to the doctors, be there to enjoy each other’s company or read a story. These are all great but Maricopa is bigger than just this. 

We all can make time to help one another, and that is just what we want to do. We hope in the future to be calling you to help with one of the many projects that our future holds, or you can call us and offer your help. This is the best way I know to get to know another person.

Photo by Michael K. Rich

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