- Log in
- Subscribe
- Advertise
- Classifieds
- Events
- Free Newsletters
- Obituaries
- Newspapers
- Daily Independent
- Apache Junction Independent
- Chandler Independent
- Florence Independent
- Gilbert Independent
- Glendale Independent
- Litchfield Park Independent
- Mesa Independent
- Paradise Valley Independent
- Peoria Independent
- Queen Creek Independent
- Scottsdale Independent
- Sun City Independent
- Sun City West Independent
- Surprise Independent
- Tempe Independent
- Sun Life Magazine
- Submissions
Daily Independent Apache Junction Chandler Florence Fountain Hills Gilbert Glendale Goodyear Litchfield Park Mesa Paradise Valley Peoria Phoenix Queen Creek Scottsdale Sun City Sun City West Surprise Tempe
Log in Subscribe
Subscriber Exclusive
New location to be showcased
By Jennifer Jimenez
Mail | Twitter: @SCW_Independent
Posted 6/16/23
Sun City area residents will get a chance to see the new facilities for Olive Branch Senior Center.
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already have an account? Log in to continue.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
Please log in to continue
Need an account?
Print subscribers
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Subscriber Exclusive
New location to be showcased
Posted
IF YOU GO:
What: Olive Branch Senior Center open house
When: 1-3 p.m. Thursday, June 22
Where: Olive Branch Senior Center, 13049 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City
13049 N. 103rd Avenue
Sun City, AZ
',guid: 'marker_7082_7724'});// Overlay the infowindow (on demand)// Store the markermarkers_7082.push(marker);// If we need to work with an external image ...// Any additional clickable elements need infowindows// Adjust the map for the markersindex++;}$(function(){ map_7082_init(); });-->
Banner Olive Branch Senior Center
13049 N. 103rd Avenue
Sun City, AZ
View larger map
Related
Banner Olive Branch Senior Center helps older Arizonans get federal benefits
SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE
Olive Branch preps for move
By Jennifer Jimenez
Mail | Twitter: @SCW_Independent
Sun City area residents will get a chance to see the new facilities for Olive Branch Senior Center.
The facility made the move to a renovated building on Banner Health property on 103rd Avenue just north of Grand Avenue in April. Officials will host an open house 1-3 p.m. Thursday, June 22 at the new location, 13049 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City.
The new location, in a former Banner storage building, is a 25,000-square-foot facility and is three times bigger than the previous location. The Banner Olive Branch Senior Center works to maintain and improve seniors’ nutrition as an essential service. According to Banner Olive Branch Senior Center officials, Olive Branch strives to help older adults maintain health and independence and avoid complications from chronic health conditions.
According to America’s Health Rankings, 14.7% of adults 60 and older in Arizona are experiencing food insecurity. Banner Olive Branch Senior Center offers food programs that address food insecurity that many homebound, low-income and disabled in the Sun Cities seniors face.
The five programs include the food pantry program, where seniors get to visit the food pantry daily to pick free groceries for individuals. The new food pantry is much larger with state of the art shelving for easy picking, as well as large industrial sized coolers for individuals to pick cold items. The Mobile pantry comes once per month with a semi-truck delivery from St. Mary’s Food Bank that offers all community members bags of food. Last year the food pantry collected and distributed more than 1 million pounds of food. As recently as April 14, a record 192 people visited the pantry.
In the old facility, the cooler and freezer areas were maxed out, so having a full large walk-in refrigerator and larger freezer area is a luxury, according to Dawn Gielau, Banner Olive Branch Senior Center director.
Volunteers had a more challenging time at the old facility. But with the new scale and storage spaces, the process is much easier and can cut back on the amount of lifting for volunteers, she added.
The home-delivered meals program delivers hot, nutritious meals delivered to homebound seniors, which will be made in the brand new kitchen by staff and volunteers. Delivery staff also provides wellness checks during services and averages 200 meals per day.
The congregate meals program makes meals for individuals in the dining room.
“Now the seniors can choose what they want to eat on this serving station and serve themselves,” Gielau said.
Jodie Snyder, Banner Health marketing and public relations, said the serving station also gives the seniors a sense of independence.
The older location held 160 seniors in the dining room, while now 208 seniors can dine together. Last year, the facility averaged 80 congregate meals per day. The takeout program is also an option for seniors who visit the center.
Currently, the breakfast program is available every week day.
On top of the food program, Banner Olive Branch Senior Center offers health screenings, counseling, transportation, legal assistance and educational outreach.
The new facility has two health rooms thanks to a grant from the National Council on Aging Wellness Center. Gielau said the Senior Center will host four flu and COVID booster clinics this fall.
A movie room complete with a large television and furniture, library and a chair exercise room for seniors to have an opportunity for fitness are all available in a dedicated space.
Also located in the dining room, a stage is available for speakers, entertainers and the Monday Mending Group, who repair clothes on-site.
Call 623-465-6000.
Reporter Jennifer Jimenez can be reached at jjimenez@iniusa.org. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
Jennifer Jimenez
Reporter | Sun City West
@SCW_Independent
jjimenez@iniusa.org
I am passionate about sports and community writing and shining the light on positivity, while delivering the facts. I have been with the Independent team for five months, but in the game for 15 years. I am a proud Grand Canyon University alumni. Born and raised in Peoria, I also am blessed to have a street named after me called Jennifer Rose Court.
Subscribers make this story possible.
Support the journalists of Independent Newsmedia.
Keywords
Olive Branch, open, scheduled, Sun City
Other items that may interest you
Doris Kearn Goodwin and Laurie Anderson to receive medals from American Academy of Arts and Letters
US-funded Radio Free Asia closes its Hong Kong bureau over safety concerns under new security law
The leader of Northern Ireland's largest unionist party steps down amid police probe
In Jerusalem, Palestinian Christians observe scaled-down Good Friday celebrations
Most popular stories in Daily Independent