COVENANT HOUSE CHRONICLES - Covenant House of Tucson

COVENANT HOUSE CHRONICLES
B'nai B'rith Covenant House
Four-Leaf Clover
Although clovers are most often found in
nature with three leaves, rare four-leaf
clovers do exist. Finding one is thought
to bring someone extreme luck.
The folklore for four-leaf clovers
differs from that of the Shamrock
due to the fact that it has no religious allusions
associated with it. It is believed that each leaf of a
four-leaf clover represents something different: the
first is hope, the second is faith, the third is love,
and the fourth is happiness.
Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St.
Patrick's Day dish. In 2007, roughly 41.5 billion
pounds of U.S. beef and 2.6 billion pounds of
U.S. cabbage were sold. Many St. Patrick's Day
celebrants enjoy corned beef and cabbage, and
we know how much our residents enjoy this
tradition every year!
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Our St. Patrick’s Day
celebration will be on
Weds., March 16th at 3:30pm!
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EASTER
Easter is a festival where Christians will
celebrate the rebirth or resurrection of
Jesus Christ. On the day now known as
Easter Sunday Jesus was crucified but
rose from the dead. From the very early
times, the egg has been considered the
most important symbol of rebirth.
March 2016
Covenant House Staff
 Reda Anna, Manager
 Gulnar Akhmedova,
Assistant Manager
 Teresa Wachala,
Service Coordinator
 Troy Pearson,
Wellness Center
 Tim Hart,
Maintenance
 Lourdes Verduzco,
Housekeeping
 Vijay Singh,
Caretaker
Important Phone
Numbers
 Office, 327-2200
 Service Coordinator,
321-4496
 Wellness Center,
327-0922
 Emergency, 911
 After Hours
Maintenance
Emergency,
808-7802
B’nai B’rith Covenant
House is
professionally
managed by
Biltmore
Properties Inc.
COVENANT HOUSE CHRONICLES
Page 2
***Service Coordinator News --- Teresa Wachala***
I would like to wish everyone a
Happy St. Patrick’s Day,
Happy Easter & Spring!
The spirit of Easter is all about hope, love, and joyful living.
~ Anonymous.
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 If anyone runs low on food or other items during the month, I have an
emergency food pantry. I have stocked it with more of a variety of items,
including tuna, sardines, chicken, soup, crackers, dryer sheets, paper
towels, Kleenex, toilet paper, dish soap, clothes soap, AA and AAA
Batteries. For our pet owners, I have some canned & dry CAT FOOD
and a few treats for both cats & dogs, so please call 321-4496 and let me
know if you need anything. If you need any items from the pantry, please
see me during my office hours. All distributions are kept confidential.
 LOBBY HOURS- (I sell stamps and quarters and answer questions)
Tuesdays from 9-10am and Thursdays from 10-11am
 Please remember to see me if you get any mail you do not understand
or need help with, especially from AHCCCS, DES or Social Security
as there may be a deadline and I do not want anyone to lose their
benefits. I can help set up on-line accounts which can make the
process of recertification and printing new award letters much
easier.
 For those of you who use my services, please come to my office so I can
update your file which is required every year. It usually takes about 10-15
minutes to ask a few questions and sign any required documents. Thank you!
 If anyone makes their own SHARPS containers from household
coffee cans or detergent bottles, etc., I have the Biohazard
stickers to put on them before you put them in the trash.
Please come to my office if you need some.
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BBCH
***Manager’s Memo—Reda Anna***
Please remember that all residents have the right to use the multipurpose room
whether it is to watch TV, play cards, etc. When several groups or individuals are
using the room at the same time, please respect each other by keeping the noise
to a minimum so everyone can enjoy the room.
Please be sure to always put garbage in a bag before putting it in the
garbage chute as staff has to empty the smaller garbage bins into the
larger bins and loose debris can be messy and dangerous. Please be
careful when disposing of needles, lancets, broken glass or other
hazardous items so staff does not get hurt when taking the garbage out. Please
come to the office or ask Teresa about ways to properly dispose of these items.
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The Flu has Arizona in its Grip
The Arizona Department of Health Services says the respiratory illness
is now considered widespread. That's the highest category possible. It
has been reported in all 15 counties, including Pima.
The Arizona Department of Health Services sent out this flu information:
"Influenza is a serious illness with symptoms similar to the common cold. However, the flu
comes on quickly and is more physically draining. For most people, the best care is to stay
home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. For others, especially the elderly and those with certain
medical conditions, the flu can be more severe.
'Some of the symptoms of the flu are very similar to those of a cold,' said Dr. Cara Christ,
Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health Services. 'Some people treat the flu like
it's a cold and continue working. The truth is influenza can be fatal. If you suddenly feel sick,
tired and begin coughing and sneezing, take care of yourself. Stay home and don't spread the
virus to others. If you have a hard time breathing or have chest pains, you probably need to
check with your doctor or get immediate help.”
Please remember that many of our residents are more at-risk for flu,
pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. If you are feeling ill,
please try to stay away from the common areas or wear a mask or
cover your face. Everyone should practice regular hand washing
and carry antibacterial hand wipes or gel as you will be exposed to
surfaces that others have touched.
Page 4
COVENANT HOUSE CHRONICLES
Resident Reading Program
The 5th Resident Reading Program is scheduled for
Friday, March 11th at 3pm.
Do you have any poems, short stories, journal entries, interesting
letters, etc. that you would like to share with others?
Or would you like to come and listen to those who wish to share?
This event is always a lot of fun and has been enjoyed by fellow
residents, family and friends. A sign-up sheet will be posted two
weeks before the event. Anyone who signs up may attend; but if
you wish to read something, please contact Valerie at 207-9925
or talk to Betty so you can be put on the reading roster.
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GOOD ADVICE
"Life is not the way it's supposed to be.. It's the way it is..
The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference.”
“Not everyone can do great things. But we can all do small
things with great love!”
Mother Teresa
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred. 2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
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Valentine
Celebration
Page 5
BBCH
Craft Class
Please join us in the MP room on
Friday, March 18th at 2pm
for our Easter Craft Class. We will be
making baskets and bunnies. A sign-up sheet
will be in the lobby one week prior to class.
Come explore your creative side!
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Page 6
COVENANT HOUSE CHRONICLES
***Wellness Center—Troy Pearson***
MARCH 2016
OFFICE HOURS:
TUESDAY: 6:00—11:00AM
THURSDAY: 6:00—11:00AM
FRIDAY: 6:00AM— 4:00PM
TROY J PEARSON—WELLNESS DIRECTOR
NEW 1,000,000 STEP CHALLENGE HAS BEGUN ON February 1st!!!
It’s not too late to contribute your steps to the total. Pick up a
pedometer in the WELLNESS CENTER and keep a total of your
steps and submit your step count to Troy.
ROUND ROBIN HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT BEGINS MARCH 1st!!!
Enjoy the Spring weather and sign-up for the tournament
(bragging rights only). Residents will be handicapped due to skill
level. Come and join the FUN IN THE SUN!!!
Page 7
BBCH
Covenant House Calendar
2016
Sun
Mon
Tue
1
2
Bingo 3pm
6
7
Wed
8
14
15
Bingo 3pm
4
5
Coffee
8:00
10
11
Resident
Reading
Program
at 3pm!
12
Coffee
8:00
17
St Patrick’s
Day!
18
19
Easter Craft
Coffee
Class at 2pm!
8:00
24
25
Grocery
Van to Walmart
10am
16
Grocery
Van to Fry’s
10am
Sat
3
Both Food
Boxes at
10:30am!
13
Fri
Grocery Van
to Fry’s 10am
9
Bingo 3pm
Thu
St Patrick’s
Day Party at
3:30pm!
20
First day of
Spring!
21
Movie
Matinee
at 3pm!
22
Bingo 3pm
23
27
28
29
Bingo 3pm
30
Grocery Van
to Walmart
10am
Grocery Van
to Albertson’s
10am
31
26
Coffee
8:00
B’nai B’rith Covenant House
4414 E. 2nd Street
Tucson, AZ 85711
Website: www.covenanthouseoftucson.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/covenanthousetucson
Phone: 520-327-2200 Fax: 520-327-0080
E-mail: bnaibrithcovenan@qwestoffice.net
Our Mission Statement: B’nai B’rith Covenant House provides affordable
independent housing for seniors. We develop programs and projects to
enrich the resident’s lives while fostering independence and dignity.
Around Covenant House
WELLNESS CENTER
CLASS SCHEDULE:
TUESDAY 9:30AM- CHAIR CLASS
THURSDAY 9:30AM- CIRCUIT
CLASS
FRIDAY 7:30AM- WALKING
GROUP
FRIDAY 10:00AM- GROUP
EXERCISE
ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS BY
APPOINTMENT DURING
OFFICE HOURS
Please call Troy at 327-0922
if you have any questions.
**IMPORTANT!!**
Food Plus
Please let the office know if
your phone number has
changed. It is difficult for
staff as well as agencies to
contact you without the
correct information.
Income Guidelines:
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We would like to thank
Evergreen Mortuary &
Cemetery for printing our
newsletter every month.
Their assistance is
invaluable to us.
So a BIG THANKS
to them for helping make
our newsletter possible!
$1276/mo (ind)
$1726/mo (cple)
Please see Teresa if
you want to sign up
for Food Plus.
BOTH food boxes
are delivered on the
SAME DAY
nd
(2 Weds. of mo.)
March 9th
April 13th