A Service Learning Project of an Instructor

Dr. Robert L. Veon, instructor in MHT 216 – “Mental Health and Aging” is participating in the Service Learning component of the course along with his students. Dr. Veon, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Area Agency on Aging, became aware that programs of this agency were going to be curtailed and/or eliminated due to the lack of supporting funds coming into this area of central Maine from the Federal and State Governments.

One of the programs being targeted, due to rising costs and limited funding, was the feeding program for Senior Citizens. Within the last few weeks some sites in the area where seniors could get a meal have already been eliminated. Others may be affected. When Dr. Veon heard that the site in Greenville was a possible site to be adjusted, he inquired of the leadership of EAAA what it would take to keep the Greenville site, which serves the Moosehead Lake region, operating as it had currently been. He was told that it would require an additional thousand dollars to keep the Greenville site at the rate it had been operating.

Veon raised enough money to meet the needs for the year 2012 and an additional $600.00 for the year 2013. Veon intends to raise the balance and keep the Moosehead site at its accustomed level of availability in the future. In a thank you letter received by Dr. Veon from the group in Greenville it was stated, “As you know, this is a place where senior citizens can gather for (a meal) and conversation about the weather, the world situation, how they are feeling and just enjoy neighbors. For some seniors this is the only outing they have. So helping serve the seniors in this area and surrounding area is great.”

In addition to keeping the meals for seniors going, it was announced this week that Dr. Veon, the Union Church and the Rockwood Chapel, have combined to develop a “Senior Center for Enrichment” in the area which will provide special opportunities for maturing members of the Moosehead Area Community to attend special programs, lectures, book reviews and cultural /educational opportunities both within and outside the community area. The group is currently planning a bus trip to Bangor to see a performance of the Nutcracker Suite during upcoming Holiday Season.

Dr. Veon is an advocate of this type of opportunities for Seniors. Two years ago he taught the course on “Mental Health and Aging,” which he teaches here at KVCC, on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono as part of the “Penobscot County Senior College.”