A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
I want to take a moment to remind you of the power and impact of the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging. I want to paint a vibrant picture of what we do every day in this community. I want you to see why what we do every day matters! The pages of this Special Edition of the Polished paints that picture and tells the story of the power and impact of the work that we do. Each member of Team EBRCOA is a part of something that is so much bigger than themselves!
Furthermore, our growth has not only been with our workforce but also with our footprint across the parish. We have new senior centers in every corner of East Baton Rouge Parish, affordable housing communities, commercial kitchens, and a new administration building. These state- of-the-art facilities bring new commerce to once blighted areas and increase property values, while also addressing the concerns expressed by our beloved seniors. I hope that you enjoy this issue and that through reading it you learn something about this fantastic agency that you may not have known before. I invite you to visit our website and social media platforms so that you may continue to be informed about upcoming events. We will continue to keep you informed of future developments with the agency and overall senior issues. I would like to take a moment to express my immense gratitude to my amazing team. It is because of their tireless efforts that the vision comes to fruition every day. Team EBRCOA matters. Our beloved seniors matter. What we do matters and we are growing by leaps and bounds!
active and healthy. Throughout the last two years, the agency has hosted many pop-up health clinics focused on putting the necessary aid (Covid screening and Covid vaccines) within their grasp and easily attainable. The People We Serve The EBRCOA is extremely valuable to the community because we serve a segment of the community that is often forgotten and we touch them directly. Oftentimes, seniors share their gifts with the community for decades helping others only to reach their golden years with little to no help in return. Our Impact & Why It Matters The Council on Aging is an essential quasi-governmental agency initially created to serve and support the seniors of East Baton Rouge Parish, but our impact has a ripple effect felt throughout the community. Over the recent years, our staff and services have grown exponentially. With that growth, came new job opportunities. Also, EBRCOA is a second-chance employer; so, we provide opportunities to individuals who otherwise would not have the chance to redeem themselves and become contributing members of society.
Who We Are The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging is a quasi-governmental agency under the charge of the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs. Our mission is to serve the seniors of East Baton Rouge Parish and to support their continued independence through their golden years. It is our goal to care for the seniors of this parish in such a way that brings dignity, purpose, and security during the prime of their lives. We have been the City of Baton Rouge’s best-kept secret for over 50 years! We will be a secret no more! The Work That We Do EBRCOA is known for our nutritional services, such as our daily hot congregate meals served at our senior centers and our weekly frozen meals delivered to our Meals on Wheels recipients. Lotus Food Pantry creates an opportunity for seniors to shop in our supermarket-structured food pantry for essential items at no cost. This is a great supplement to their monthly groceries and alleviates additional expenses. Although proper nutrition is so crucial to the health and quality of life of a senior, combatting senior hunger is only a small fraction of what we do. We offer 20+ services throughout the parish. For example, each of our senior centers offer senior-focused fitness and wellness classes to keep seniors
Wishing you Lots of Lotus Love,
Tasha Clark-Amar Chief Executive Officer
Mahatma Gandhi – “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
LEAPS & BOUNDS | Q1 POLISHED MAGAZINE
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