Volunteers will do supermarket shopping with lists distributed by SAGE’s staff shopping coordinator, who will also sign the checks at the checkout. Volunteers will deliver the groceries to the client, along with their receipt.

Volunteers are also needed Mondays and Tuesdays to pick up shopping lists from clients in any of the towns we serve. SAGE also provides a shopping service in Berkeley Heights on Wednesday mornings for seniors in Berkeley Heights, New Providence, Summit and Chatham. For more information, or if you are interested in this or other volunteer opportunities at SAGE Eldercare, contact Marianne Kranz at 908-598-5514.


Meals on Wheels Needs Volunteers!

SAGE Eldercare delivers Meals on Wheels year round to Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Millburn, Mountainside, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, and Summit.  Volunteers are always needed to keep this vital service running smoothly. Says Marianne Kranz, SAGE Eldercare Director of Meals on Wheels, "It’s not a large time commitment and we are flexible with our volunteers’ schedules." Meals are delivered Monday through Saturday, from about 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. To learn more about volunteering for Meals on Wheels, as well as other volunteer opportunities at SAGE, call Marianne Kranz at 908-598-5514.


SAGE Holds Annual Meeting

On Thursday, December 6, 2007, SAGE Eldercare held its 53th Annual Meeting at its headquarters at 290 Broad Street, Summit. Summit Mayor Jordan Glatt was among the attendees, and opening words were provided by SAGE Board of Trustees President Katherine Daley, Board Treasurer James Power, and Acting Executive Director Jessica Cantor. SAGE honored staff and volunteers for their commitment to its mission to support the independence, well-being and quality of life of older adults, their caregivers and families. The 2006 Good Neighbor Award was presented to St. John’s Community Services; Community Partner Award, to Banco Popular; Agnes N. Badgely Memorial Award, to Natalie Cahoon; Volunteer of the Year Award, to Joan Hoffmann; and Teen Volunteer of the Year Award, to Cara Flynn. In addition, a Staff Recognition certificate was presented to Doreen Murell for 2006 Home Health Aide of the Year. SAGE also honored the following staff for service: 5 years, Loretta Hakim, RN; 10 years, Phyllis England-Cardone, Helen Laryea, Elmina Moses-Darrell and Veronica Stephenson; 15 years, Marilyn Epstein, Adlyn McAnuff and Annie Oliver; and 20 years, Mary Ann Maher, RN.


At the 53rd Annual Meeting of SAGE Eldercare, Cara Flynn of Summit (left) accepts the 2006 Teen Volunteer of the Year Award from Marianne Kranz, Director of Meals on Wheels and Volunteers at SAGE.


Home Health Aide of the Year 2007: Maria Godek

Maria Godek has been named 2007 Home Health Aide of the Year, an award that she never imagined receiving. “It’s a big honor to work with such friendly and nice people,” she said. An immigrant from from Rzeszów, Poland, Maria has lived in Irvington, NJ, for the past fifteen years. She and her husband Stanislaw spoke no English when they first arrived in the States, but she was able to find work as a private home aide for four years before taking the necessary courses to become a licensed Home Health Aide. In order to take the courses, however, Maria taught herself English by reading her granddaughter’s schoolbooks and watching TV. Maria and Stanislaw have two children and two grandchildren who live in Pennsylvania. Between her family responsibilities and her work at SAGE, Maria is one of those people with very little free time. SAGE is fortunate to benefit from Maria’s home care expertise, boundless enthusiasm, and an open mind and heart. Says Maria, "I like to keep busy!"


2007 Home Health Aide of the Year, Maria Godek


Portable Pantry at SAGE

SAGE Meals on Wheels is collecting donations of low-sodium soups, nutrition bars, canned fruit and vegetables, crackers, low-sugar fruit cups, juice boxes, peanut butter, and tuna fish. SAGE Eldercare received a Kraft Cares grant to start a Portable Pantry, which supports and expands SAGE’s existing emergency food supply into a mobile food pantry that will supply and distribute non-perishable meal boxes/bags to home-bound seniors at risk of hunger and poor nutrition as a result of economic and access barriers. The pantry will provide 1,250 non-perishable kits to at-risk seniors living in Union, Essex, and Morris Counties. Meals on Wheels volunteers will deliver the meal boxes/bags directly to the residences of isolated and homebound seniors living in poverty. SAGE is collecting items for distribution from now until June. Donations can be dropped off in the lobby at SAGE Eldercare, 290 Broad Street, Summit. For more information about the Portable Pantry, or to learn about volunteer opportunities at SAGE, call Marianne Kranz, Director of Volunteers and Meals on Wheels, at 908-273-5554, or visit www.sageeldercare.org.


Elected Officials Deliver Meals on Wheels

On a rainy Wednesday, March 19, Senator Thomas Kean, Jr. and other local, elected officials brought Meals on Wheels clients a little sunshine by taking part in the nationwide “Mayors for Meals On Wheels” program. For many homebound seniors, a friendly visit from a Meals on Wheels volunteer may be their only contact with another person that day. Senator Kean delivered meals to seniors in New Providence as part of a crew of volunteers at SAGE Eldercare that included Summit Mayor Jordan Glatt, Berkeley Heights Councilwoman Elaine Perna, Springfield Mayor Bart Fraenkel and Millburn Mayor Sandra Haimoff. Each elected official had their own separate route, hand-delivering meals to clients. The officials were able to experience first-hand the Meals on Wheels program in action, watching “seasoned” volunteers put meals in hot and cold packs for delivery. Reflecting on his Meals On Wheels experience, the Senator said, “It’s great to see the people. I wish we had more opportunity for conversations!”


Senator Tom Kean, Jr. braves rain to deliver Meals 0n Wheels


SAGE Eldercare’s Board of Trustees Announces New Executive Director

SAGE Eldercare named Mrs. Jessica L. Cantor, MPH, CALA as SAGE Eldercare’s new Executive Director effective April 1, 2008. “SAGE Eldercare is fortunate to have Mrs. Cantor in this position guiding us through the next stage in SAGE’s growth,” said Katherine Daley, President of SAGE’s Board of Trustees. Mrs. Cantor has been serving SAGE Eldercare as Director of Spend-A-Day Adult Day Health Center and Director of Business Development for the past several years. She was appointed Acting Executive Director in October 2007. Mrs. Cantor has held various leadership positions in assisted living and skilled nursing settings, and has collaborated with physicians, hospitals, and other allied health professionals to ensure that older adults and their caregivers have both knowledge and access to available services and plans and will continue those efforts in her new role. Says Mrs. Cantor, "I look forward to developing and maintaining strong community ties while continuing our plans for innovative, high-quality senior services in Union, Essex, Morris and Somerset counties." Mrs. Cantor holds a Master’s degree in Public Health Policy and Administration from Boston University’s School of Public Health. She received her undergraduate degree from Tufts University where she majored in Spanish and Community Health. Said Mrs. Cantor, "I am honored to serve such a unique, quality organization in its 54th year of service to seniors and their families."


Kathie Daley (SAGE Board of Trustees President) and Jessica Cantor (SAGE Eldercare Executive Director


SAGE Thanks Grant Donors

C.R. Bard, Inc., and the Lena Willis Mission Endowment Fund of Central Presbyterian Church of Summit have each awarded a generous gift of $10,000 to the SAGE Eldercare 2008 Annual Fund. These funds, along with other contributions to SAGE’s 2008 Annual Fund, will support programs and services to help seniors to live safely and independently at home. C. R. Bard, Inc., is a worldwide leader in products that focus on disease state management. Bard’s generous grant of $10,000 will be directed toward SAGE Eldercare’s InfoCare service, which provides seniors and their caregivers with access to information, advice and a broad spectrum of available services in Union, Essex, Morris and Somerset counties. The Lena Willis Mission Endowment Fund, established in 1994 by the Central Presbyterian Church of Summit, was made possible by the bequest of parishioner Lena Willis, who directed the funds to support the church’s mission activities. The $10,000 grant will support SAGE Eldercare’s Fall Prevention Initiative, which promotes safety in the home environment of older adults and educates seniors and caregivers about ways to reduce and prevent accidental falls. SAGE extends its sincere thanks to C. R. Bard, Inc., and the Central Presbyterian Church of Summit for their generous support. SAGE welcomes donations from corporations, community organizations, and individuals as well. If you would like to make a donation to support SAGE Eldercare, please contact Dawn Knill, Director of Development and Public Relations at 908.598.5503 for more information.


SAGE Wine Tasting Event

On April 26, A "Wine & Jazz" event to benefit SAGE Eldercare was held at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, in Summit. The event featured a tasting selection of wines from the Wine List in Summit. Adding to the elegance of the evening was a sophisticated selection of jazz standards both old and new, sung by SAGE Eldercare’s own Jackie Jones. The Wine & Jazz event was funded by Lead Sponsor Lois Schneider Real Estate, and Supporting Sponsors Hilltop Community Bank and Peter Wallburg Studios. Proceeds supported SAGE Eldercare.


Pictured (left to right) are guests Debbie Chang, Linda Peck, and Marvin Chang.