We obtained our goal of moving across town without shutting down either of our meal programs and the other services we offer. It took some planning and effort. But we did it! And it takes a community! We had the most well-attended grand opening ceremony that many of us have ever witnessed in the town of Fallon, except for maybe Taco Bell, a few years back.

There were many of our community partners involved in making our opening and entire moving process such a success. I truly thank each and every one of you for all your many efforts. You all know who you are. This would not have been possible without all of you. Please accept my sincerest thanks.

Now that all the “festivities and folderol” have subsided, we can get down to business and start focusing on our overall operations. As you have heard in passing over the past year, we have big plans for expansion in our programs and services to be offered here. I urge you to get on our email blast list so that you can get the latest information and you can always come in to eat lunch and pick any information available.

As you know, we will be providing the “intergenerational program aspect” at our new location. We are still all about and totally dedicated to serving our senior population but want to bring in all ages to share, socialize, participate, and get involved in the activities and engage in community. This is where it’s at and we want to see this building flourish!

There’s a saying that I heard repeatedly as a child by both of my grandmothers and my mother, “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. This is so true. And I bet, if you all take a moment to read on and think about it you will get the gist.

As we continue our transition from old building to new building, from old location to new location, from old furniture to new furniture, old parking lots woes to new parking lots, to different dining room configurations, to new ideas of trying different things, and so on. What this saying is telling us, is we can attempt and perform a meaningful change event but there will always be the underlying fundamentals still there staring us in the face!

We still all were raised to be respectful, kind, patient and loving and we need to remember to practice daily civility to one another over the course of our time here on the earth.

And if you weren’t raised this way, then you need to search deeply in your inner soul and find that respect, kindness, patience, and love and make it available to share from your heart. Chances are good you will feel much better about yourself and it will make someone smile and return the favor. I challenge you to try it. We all owe it to each other to work on ourselves for the better.

I want to leave you with a few things to ponder. In the four weeks that we have been in our new building, we have seen approximately 100 new or returning senior faces. On the day of our grand opening, we fed over 310 individuals in the dining room, 190 Meals on Wheels went out the back door, and 270 meals were frozen for the weekend inventory. Is that amazing or what?

Build it, fill it with smiling faces, serve food, and they will come!

Here’s to our new beginnings in a new building with a new address and new faces of all ages daily. I’m excited. I hope you are too! This is a huge opportunity for you to make a difference in your daily life and that of another human being… Reach out and be kind.

                                                                                                         Lisa Erquiaga, Executive Director