Area Agency on Aging « Lackawanna County

Carbondale Pop Up Senior Center

Lackawanna County’s Area Agency on Aging will present a Pop up Senior Center on the Main Street Square in Carbondale on Tuesday, July 16, from 9 am – 1 pm. Senior citizens can pick-up their farmer’s market vouchers and use them at the market that will be on site. A free chopping station will be available to prep produce to take home.

Community organizations will sponsor information booths and demonstrations. The Weinberg Foundation will provide a cooking demonstration, and the Greater Carbondale YMCA will have a booth on its healthy living program.

The Geisinger Community Medical Center Springboard team will be testing handgrip strength with a machine called a dynamometer. It will also host a cup stacking competition for participants to have fun while testing their cup stacking abilities. The United Way of Lackawanna & Wayne Counties will sponsor free blood pressure screenings. Jim Cullen and Jack Bordo will perform from 9 am – 11 am.

For more information contact Sue Miraglia at Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging at 570.963-6740, ext. 1406 or MiragliaS@lackawannacounty.org.

Farmers Market Vouchers Available

Lackawanna County senior citizens will once again be able to participate in the very popular local farmers market voucher program that has been a staple in our community for a number of years.

Lackawanna County’s Area Agency on Aging, in cooperation with the State Department of Agriculture, will be distributing Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers at either senior community centers, public facilities or “POP UP” venues, beginning Friday, June 14.

Under the program, each eligible senior can receive up to four $5 vouchers that can be redeemed at participating farmers markets and farm stands for fresh fruit and produce. The program is a win-win for both consumers and farmers. It gives senior citizens access to locally grown produce and directs shoppers to area farmers that they generally may not see on a regular basis.

The County has over 22,000 vouchers available for distribution.

Those who qualify are Lackawanna County residents who will be 60 or older by December 31, 2019 and whose annual income does not exceed $23,107 for a single person, $31,284 for a couple or $39,461 for a three person household. Proof of age in the form of a driver’s license or birth certificate must be provided along with proof of Lackawanna County residency in the form of a utility bill or a driver’s license.

Vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis generally from 9 AM – noon at the centers, unless otherwise indicated. Seniors who are unable to visit a site may appoint a proxy to pick-up a voucher for them. Proxy forms can be obtained at the Area Agency on Aging, local senior centers or online at www.lackawannacounty.org.

Distribution dates and sites include:

Friday, June 14: PA Anthracite Heritage Museum, 22 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, 9 AM – 11 AM

Saturday, June 22: South Scranton Farmers Market, 300 Block of Alder Street, Scranton, (10 AM – 1 PM)

Saturday, June 29: South Scranton Farmers Market, 300 Block of Alder Street, Scranton, (10 AM – 1 PM)

Tuesday, July 2: POP UP Senior Center with Farm Stands, Courthouse Square, N. Washington Avenue, Scranton

Wednesday, July 10: Dunmore Senior Center, 1414 Monroe Avenue, Dunmore

Thursday, July 11: The Marketplace At Steamtown, 300 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, (2 PM – 7 PM)

Tuesday, July 16: POP UP Senior Center with Farm Stands at Carbondale City Hall/Memorial Park, Carbondale

Friday, July 19: Taylor Community Center, 700 S. Main Street, Taylor

Monday, July 22: Mid Valley Senior Center, 310 Church Street, Jessup

Saturday, July 27: South Scranton Farmers Market, 300 Block of Alder Street, Scranton, (10 AM – 1 PM)

Monday, July 30: POP UP Senior Center with Farm Stands at North Pocono Middle School, 701 Church Street, Moscow

Any questions on the program should be directed to the Area Agency on Aging at

(570) 963-6740.

Medicare “Lunch and Learn”

We know you value your employees and want the best for them and we would like to partner with you to enhance that mission. The APPRISE Program is engaging an outreach effort to locate soon-to-be retirees and educate them on Medicare and various benefits available, therefore, we are specifically asking you to consider having a Medicare “Lunch and Learn”.

We will do all the work! The only thing we need from you is space within the company (Conference Room /Board Room) to hold the session. Please contact Voluntary Action Center APPRISE Program at 570-347-5616 Ext 211

Elderly Tax Extension Program Begins March 1

A tax defer payment program to provide assistance for the elderly of Lackawanna County will kick-off on March 1 for individuals who meet the income guidelines of the initiative.

The County’s Tax Claim Bureau’s “Extension For Elderly/Deferral of Taxes” will offer eligible persons 65 years of age or older an opportunity to extend or defer the period of time to pay their taxes. The overall goal of this program is to prevent them for losing their residences and/or the equity in their homes as a result of unpaid real estate taxes.

The program was enacted by the Commissioners on September 21, 2016. It is being administered by the County’s Area Agency on Aging and the Scranton Lackawanna Human Development Agency (SLHDA).

To be eligible, an applicant’s household income must be equal to or less than the maximum household income necessary to qualify for a property tax or rent rebate under the Senior Citizens Rebate Act.

To determine eligibility, the Tax Bureau and Area Agency on Aging will review tax return documents, homeowner’s insurance data and income information. If the applicant meets the requirements of the program, an additional three-month tax payment extension would be granted.

After this point, if the owner desires to continue to live in the residence and cannot afford to pay the taxes the Tax Claim Bureau may stay the tax sale and defer payment until such time as title to the property is transferred or the owner is no longer the sole occupant of the property.

Once the title to the property is transferred and the eligible owner is no longer the sole occupant, the taxes and simple interest shall be due.

For general tax information, call the Tax Claim Bureau at 570-963-6734.

For applications, guideline reviews and assistance, contact the Area Agency on Aging at 570-963-6740 or SLHDA at 570-963-6836.

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Carbondale Pop Up Senior Center

Farmers Market Vouchers Available

Medicare “Lunch and Learn”

Elderly Tax Extension Program Begins March 1