The Elizabeth and Tab Williams Adult Day Center of Senior Services, Inc., has been recognized as the nation’s top adult day center by the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). The Williams Center was lauded for its “expertise, experience, innovation, creativity, kindness and compassion.” The award was formally announced and presented in Raleigh on August 21 with Jean Small, vice president of Senior Services’ Adult Day Services, accepting the award on behalf of Senior Services.

“We are pleased to accept this award and recognition,” Jean said. “We fully understand that this award belongs to everyone at Senior Services and to the Board and to this wonderful community,” she added.

This is the first win for a North Carolina program; past winners were located in Illinois, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Arizona. The criteria used in selecting the winning program included the areas of creative programming, specialized and personalized services, exceptional programs and services, and unique or well-established community partnerships. The national award recognizes the Williams Center as a model for “best practices,” from which other centers can learn.

The Elizabeth and Tab Williams Day Center was opened in May 2000. It is located at 231 Melrose Street in Winston-Salem, NC. The center provides support, supervision and health care monitoring to 250 persons with memory loss annually. See WGHP FOX 8 video to get a glimpse of the Williams Center program "live."

Gifts for the Christmas in July program are now pouring in, thanks to a generous and caring community. Beginning as early as June, church, neighborhood and civic groups, businesses and individuals streamed into the Senior Services Center lobby with cartloads of items chosen from the Senior Services wish list.

One of the first groups to sign on to help was the Winston-Salem Elks Lodge #449. Members agreed to collect personal hygiene items for the Christmas in July drive. Randall Zigmund and Jerry Bryant, Elks chair and co-chair for the Senior Services project, arrived on July 6 to present their bounty. According to Mr. Zigmund, the focus of the Elks is not only to support veterans but also to help families in need “The support of my committee,” he said “is to help the seniors of our community, through joint efforts, to obtain needed supplies and/or donations.”

In addition to the Elks Lodge, dozens of individuals and groups have generously contributed to the drive including A. H. Anderson Alumni Association, Inc.; America Serves, of Winston-Salem; Beck’s Baptist Church; Bethlehem Baptist Church; First Presbyterian Church; GMAC; Gramercy Research Group; Griffith Baptist Church; New Bethel Baptist Church; New Philadelphia Moravian Church; St. Andrews Presbyterian Church; the Old Salem Sertoma Club; Salisbury Crossing homeowners; Trinity United Methodist Church; Weston and Associates, Inc.; and Zion Memorial Baptist Church.

The community came forward with a variety of items from healthcare to cleaning supplies and paper goods. Non-perishable food items topped the most-wanted list, and these will continue to be needed throughout the remainder of the year. Crackers, cereal, Jell-O and fruit cups and peanut butter were the most in demand.

Thank you to everyone who helped create Christmas in July for seniors in need. The abundance of holiday spirit was clearly demonstrated by all who contributed.

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
                                                                                                 —Charles Dickens

August-like temperatures in June and July made the fan give away program at Senior Services timelier than ever. Heat stroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion, each a major health problem, are real possibilities when the thermometer climbs into the 90s, and the health of the elderly is especially at risk.

Duke Energy subsidized the initial distribution of fans to help seniors cope with the heat of summer, and Senior Services provided volunteers to help assemble them. Senior Services has placed additional orders for fans, as Winston-Salem and Forsyth County continued to rack up days with temperatures above 90 degrees and the need for relief persisted. As of September 2, 2010, Senior Services had distributed 691 fans to older adults in need in Forsyth County!

If you would like to make a contribution to help cover the cost of the extra fans or need more information, please call 725-0907. Thank you!