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It’s not always the best idea to put someone on a pedestal, but this is National Volunteer Week so we’re asking our volunteers to take a turn of recognition and climb up there for a moment. (Don’t worry, they’re a humble bunch. They’ll get right back down.)

You already know The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond is made by, for and about older adults. What you might not know is the incredible amount of plain, old-fashioned, nuts and bolts, behind-the-scenes, hard work that volunteers do – making TSCOR one happening place! Just take a look at what our volunteers have accomplished in yet another pandemic year and it’s easy to see.

The Client Services committee works with drivers to get clients to medical appointments and supply groceries to those who can’t get out. The Education committee planned three successful Open University sessions for everyone to enjoy. OU teachers and speakers reach students via Zoom, making the world seem a bigger place. The Annual Volunteer Celebration committee assembled everyone for a wonderful party, and the Travel committee expanded our horizons by getting us out of the house. All of this is possible because the Covid task force guides us safely through our activities. And did we mention the board of directors keeps us on track with our goals of moving forward. See? That’s a lot of hard-working volunteers!

If you’re involved with TSCOR in any way, you can thank a volunteer for keeping you active, independent and engaged. (Hey, look at that! Volunteers uphold our mission, too! They’re an impressive group, aren’t they?) Simply put, without volunteers, The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond wouldn’t exist as we know it today. And wow, are we proud to have them.

Okay, volunteers. It’s time. Get up on those pedestals and take a bow.

Join us – live and in person – at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 27th, when Father Renninger, pastor, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, gives a special lunch presentation.

Light refreshments and beverages provided; bring a sandwich if you like.

More details to be announced. This presentation will not be available via Zoom.

What: In-Person Lunch Presentation
When: Wednesday, April 27, 2020
Time: 12:00 noon
Where: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Road, Upper Commons area
Cost: FREE! Open to the public!

The Scott’s Addition Booze & Bites tour is already half-full! We’re limited to 12 participants, so be sure to register soon. Don’t miss out on this fun and informative experience!

What: Scott’s Addition Booze & Bites Tour
When: Wednesday, April 20 at 1:30
Details: see the flyer with complete details here
Register: register and pay online here or print the registration form and register by mail

Wouldn’t you love to get out of the house and see something new? Join us on a walking tour of Scott’s Addition! Once an industrial neighborhood, this area is now popular for food, drink and fun. The tour includes several top restaurants, markets, and eateries where we’ll sample food and snacks from each, plus get a glimpse of the growing craft beverage industry. Highlights include visiting up to 6 establishments to taste one of their best dishes, learning about Scott’s Addition’s days as an industrial powerhouse, and whetting your whistle with a craft beverage from at least one local brewery or cidery. The tour is 2.5 – 3 hours and involves 1.5 easy walking miles, rain or shine. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Meeting place to be announced. Questions and info: Mary Maiden, 804-272-8636

Hurry! Registration is limited to 12 participants. Register by Monday, April 18.

Register and pay online here.
To register by mail: print a registration slip, make check payable to Shepherd’s Center of Richmond and mail your check and registration slip to: 3111 Northside Ave., #400, Richmond, VA, 23228.

The weather might be an unpredictable harbinger of spring’s arrival, but the Open University will never let you down – spring is just around the corner and the schedule is here!

See the spring 2022 Open University schedule here.

Register online here.

Set your clocks forward this weekend, smell the daffodils, and mark your calendar – Open University begins Monday, March 28!

See you at the OU!

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Open University begins this Monday, January 17th. Monday also marks Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Let’s start the session by moving forward together at the Open University.

See the schedule. Register online. See you Monday!

We had planned to be online and in person for the winter session of Open University, but Omicron is making us practice social distancing more thoroughly than we would like! A few schedule changes occurred in the process of switching to online-only.

The Monday lineup has a few changes, Tuesday has a new addition and Thursday – which was already online – saw no changes at all.

And don’t forget Wednesday! Lunch and Life is now online-only, too. It’s free and open to everyone – join us in the Zoom room here and bring your friends along!

So without further ado, here is the latest, greatest version of the Open University winter schedule.

These days there might not be safety in numbers, but there’s certainly comfort in connection; we’ll see you at the OU! Classes start Monday, January 17th!

Originally scheduled to be online and in person, Lunch and Life is now online-only via Zoom. This is due to the rapid increase in Omicron and the desire to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Lunch and Life is free and open to everyone! Join us in the Zoom room with the link below and bring your friends along too!

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86866211384
Meeting ID: 868 6621 1384

Richmond’s Canals and Islands at the Falls
Kathryn Whittington, historic researcher; master guide, Valentine Museum
W • Jan 19
12:30 – 1:30

Meeting the Challenges of Our Time: A Widening-Circles Approach to Sustainability
Rob Andrejewski, director of sustainability, adjunct assistant professor, UR
W  • Jan 26
12:30 – 1:30

All About Aging: What You Need to Know as You Age
Emily Atkinson, MPH; CHES; advocate for the aging, Henrico County
W •  Feb 2
12:30 – 1:30

Worship and Creative Art: Engaging our Senses as We Worship God
Suzanne Vinson, associate pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Richmond.
W •  Feb 9
12:30 – 1:30

Because of the recent spike in Omicron cases, no in-person classes will be held during the upcoming winter session of Open University. Instead, classes will be online-only via Zoom. This is a change from our previous plan to have both in-person and online classes. While we expect a few changes to our course offerings, we are hopeful there will not be many. We are working with instructors and an updated schedule will be posted to our website this week.

What we can tell you now:

• Monday classes, originally planned for both in-person and online, change to online-only.
• Tuesday language classes, originally planned for online-only, remain as scheduled with the potential addition of two more courses (to be announced).
• The Wednesday Lunch & Life lecture series, originally planned for in-person at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, changes to online-only.
• Thursday classes, originally planned for online-only, remain unchanged.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to finalize an updated schedule; we apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may cause. The safety of our students, volunteers and staff remains a priority. We will continue to stay the course and see this through until it is safe to gather together again.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the office at 355-7282 or countryman@tscor.org.

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on.”
– Hal Borland

“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.”
– Rainer Maria Wilke

“Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.”
– Charles Schultz

Many happy wishes for a peaceful, kind and wonderful new year,
from all of us at The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond