Meadville Community Bicycle Drive

Ben Masters stands proudly with 4 of the over 20 bicycles that were donated to the Bicycle drive this past weekend.  Ben approached Juniper Village about getting involved in his program this spring.  After hearing his initial plan for the Community Bicycle Project, we knew we had to support his efforts in the spirit of healthy aging.  Ben initially started integrating what he learned abroad in the Peace Corps at Fairview Fairmont through an earn a bicycle program. He began looking to grow a sustainable inter-generational program focusing on bicycle education and implementation as a means of transportation in individuals of all ages.  It was at Fairview Fairmont where he met Diane Craven.  Diane works at Fairview Fairmont and she and her husband Dan are working with Ben to grow the idea into a reality.

Bike Drive day came.  The sun was shining, it was hot, but there was a cool breeze blowing and up drove our first van FULL of bicycles and Bonner students from Allegheny College (pictured above).  The same Bonner students who had previously worked on our Juniper Garden Project!  In the driver seat was one of our Juniper Village Family members!  I giggled with excitement and Ben turns to me and curiously says: "Do you know Diane?" 
Diane and Dan attended the event in support of both the program, the Bonner Students and Juniper Village.  It was on that beautiful Sunday afternoon that we all came together and realized we were already connected. 

Shortly after noon, Hagen Business Machines pulled up with another donation.  What support we were getting from our local community!  The afternoon was filled with reminiscing, laughter, and a pizza party.  The next two days brought even more community support as the bicycles filtered in.
Ben is currently working towards a non-profit status with his Meadville Community Bicycle Project.  He currently has over 75 Bicycles in his Grandmother's Basement and is hoping to secure an alternate location to set up the Bicycle Shop.  His goal is to recycle the Bicycles for the earn a Bicycle Program and give them back to the Community.  Ben can be reached directly at bdmasters@gmail.com. 
Ben is a Bicycle mechanic who just LOVES to ride his Bicycle, coupled with his energy and passion for growing awareness in the Meadville community, we look forward to seeing his vision for a Bicycle Friendly community grow!  Juniper Village supports the Bicycle Program, which is right in line with our philosophy of healthy aging and Maintaining an Active Body, Engaged Mind and Fulfilled Spirit.  I am not surprised to have found that Dan and Diane, the Bonner Students and Ben all were connected.  They have all been a part of our Juniper Family and have given back to Nurturing the Spirit of Life in each individuals life they touch.  Thank you all for your passion in what you do daily!  You can read more about Ben's Adventures in his blog: http://www.yearbybicycle.blogspot.com/

Sweets for the Soldiers

Juniper Village is home to 26 Veterans of War, several surviving spouses of Veterans and friends and families of those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  As food month approached, and the June connections calendar was being planned, the soldiers were on our minds.  The brainstorming began... Food... Soldiers... Memories...Volunteerism... Hmmmm.  What could one possibly create to capture the essence of how we appreciate what all the Soldiers are doing for the greater good of our world?  We all remember the smell of sweet fresh baked cookies and how that felt to be with family.  Since smell is the sense closest linked to memory and emotion, the Sweets for the Soldiers cookie baking project was top on our list!   Imagine a life of MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), re hydrated food and that complimentary miniature bottle of Tabasco sauce to spice up the nutrition.  Then imagine being in South-Central Asia, in what seems like worlds away from your family, and receiving 22 dozen home-made chocolate chip cookies made in the USA especially for you!  Imagine opening that box, not expecting the wafting of delicious cookies in the air.  Soon, one of our local police officers, David Gredler, who is serving in Afghanistan with the Provincial Reconstruction Team out of the Army's Bravo Battery in Oil City, will be opening just that! 

The Residents of Juniper Village are Baking cookies each Monday this summer to send to the soldiers in David Gredler's Outfit.  The Provincial Reconstruction Team is part of the effort to rebuild the schools and hospitals in Afghanistan.  The soldiers will soon be receiving the next batch of peanut butter cookies that are being packaged and prepared for shipment. 

David Gredler is the husband of our very own Chef Erin Gredler and a member of our Juniper Family.  The Residents of Juniper Village are delighted knowing they are Nurturing his Spirit of Life and bringing a smile to the faces of the Soldiers.  We all look forward to a visit from David upon his return, to which we plan to add some ice cold milk to some freshly baked cookies for him!  If you are interested in volunteering to assist in this project, please contact Connections Director, Pam Mitchell at 333.4400.  The Residents gather in the Colonel Walker room at Juniper on Mondays at 1PM.