Garfield Ridge Village Interdependent Collaborative

The City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services is looking for information from local restaurants regarding a restaurant dining program for older adults aged 60 or better. Please see the link below and the explanation from the first page of that link below that. Thank you.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HHPLLBN

Older Adult Restaurant Dining Program
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION [RFI]

PURPOSE

The goals of this Request for Information (RFI) are to gather information to inform a subsequent Request for Proposal that will be released in 2022 as well as to encourage program design considerations for the City of Chicago. Specifically, DFSS is soliciting responses to inform design and implementation of a pilot restaurant dining program for older adults in Chicago.

The City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) Senior Services Division is issuing this RFI to seek input from restaurant owners in Chicago regarding the design and implementation of a restaurant dining program for seniors that will be funded through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding. For the purposes of this RFI, older adults are defined as individuals, 60 years of age and older, and their spouse of any age. The goal of the restaurant program is to increase outreach to older adults facing food insecurity and expand program participation by providing older adults with enhanced choice and flexibility in accessing nutritious, well-balanced meals.

As previously stated, the City of Chicago is seeking input and feedback from interested parties on design, capacity, and consideration for all components detailed within this document that would inform project planning and a Request for Proposal. This RFI is strictly an inquiry only, and no contract or agreement will result from participating in this process. Organizations that do not respond to this RFI will not be precluded from participating in future procurements.

DFSS AND SENIOR SERVICES DIVISION BACKGROUND

As the City of Chicago’s primary social services provider and administrator, DFSS manages a comprehensive, client-oriented human service delivery system that employs a holistic approach to improving the quality of life for our most vulnerable residents. DFSS administers resources and supports to a network of over 350 community-based organizations to promote the independence and well-being of individuals, support families, and strengthen Chicago neighborhoods. DFSS’s mission is: Working with community partners, we connect Chicago residents and families to resources that build stability, support their well-being, and empower them to thrive.

Older Adult Restaurant Dining Program RFI Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Here's an update on our Village Interdependent Collaborative (VIC): We've been on hiatus because of the pandemic and because we had been having a hard time getting the VIC up and running even BEFORE the pandemic.
Here is a list of what we need:
1. Resources for seniors to help them age in place, but at no cost to the seniors. Any connections at all appreciated. A couple of the resources we are looking for specifically include: someone who in emergency situations could shovel a senior's walk or cut a senior's grass at no cost.
2. We are seriously in need of people who can reach out to the seniors who do not come out to the senior center. This could include holding resource fairs at local parks, or with block centered activities.
3. People willing to donate time and/or professional services/products to help a senior in need or to outreach activities. If this is you, please consider joining our VIC when we get up and running again.
4. Most importantly, our VIC is still looking for a volunteer or a small group of volunteers to run the VIC. The VIC Leader (or Leaders) would plan and run meetings, and answer phone calls and email to the VIC. The Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center provides a space for this work at the center as needed. We even have a donated computer to use for VIC business.
A little more information on what it means to volunteer as a VIC Leader:
The VIC, while operating with the senior center as its office, is meant to run independently of the senior center. The senior center is actually one of the "stakeholders" listed in the information below and a resource for the VIC. It is not a promotion for the senior center, it is meant to help seniors in the community.
To be the Garfield Ridge VIC Leader is really an opportunity for someone who wants to reach out and aid seniors in the community. The City does offer guidance and usually (at least pre-pandemic) holds meetings for VIC Leaders.
If you have the desire to volunteer and be helpful to seniors in the community and you are willing to give your time and talent to make a difference please consider joining. Message or email us at [email protected]. We will keep you posted on when a meeting will be happening in the not too distant future.
Attached is what the City of Chicago Executive Summary of the background and recommendations for Age Friendly Chicago's Village Interdependent Collaborations as well as a map depicting the 21 neighborhood VICs. I am also attaching the original letter inviting Community Leaders to join our local VIC in an effort to explain more of what is needed, but please ignore the meeting date, it has already happened.
Again, we hope to be putting a meeting together in the near future. If you have already made yourself a part of our VIC, thank you and everybody, please watch for more information on meeting soon.

From Margaret LaRaviere, AAA Executive Director, Deputy Commissioner, Senior Services here is:
"an advance copy of the Chicago Area Agency on Aging plan for Aging Services in Chicago. This document, called the Public Information Document (PID), provides a summary and highlights of the Area Plan on Aging, Fiscal Years 2022-2024 with the spending plan for Fiscal Year 2022.
Please click the below link to access the full document: https://www.chicago.gov/.../FY22-24_Public_Information...
In the PID, you will find a description of how the Department of Family and Support Services-Chicago Area Agency on Aging proposes to deliver services to Chicagoans, age 60 years and better, using funds from Title-III and Title-VII of the Older Americans Act and State of Illinois General Revenue Funds. Fiscal Year 2022 begins on October 1, 2021 and ends on September 30, 2022.
We invite you to review and share this document with your colleagues, clients, other social service providers, and others who support aging Chicagoans. We welcome written comments and invite your participation at our Public Hearings, for your convenience listed below (click on the link to register). Also listed is the call-in number for those who may not have computer access.
May 26, 2021 12:00 – 1:00 PM Central
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_l7KBnPxmT5OJT7E9NrNFKw
Call-in information: 1-312-626-6799 Webinar ID: 836 7740 6698
May 27, 2021 5:00 – 6:00 PM Central
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_aBQxWW_pRsubemG_8KscxA
Call-in information: 1-312-626-6799 Webinar ID: 864 9774 2828
May 28, 2021 01:30 – 2:30 PM Central
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_a0pu9puyQQKe9-BMVuqzIw
Call-in information: 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 815 9089 6081
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email to join the webinar.
Comments on the Area Plan are also welcome at any of the three Public Hearings listed. If you would like to provide verbal testimony at the meeting, please email Sandy Dea at [email protected] no later 24-hours prior to the meeting. Please provide your name and the day and time the meeting you will attend.
You may also submit written comments to Sandy Dea at [email protected] by May 31st 4pm."

Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

I couldn't find it from earlier in the month, but here's the April boxed lunch menu. Boxed lunches are available 10:30 a.m., until 12:45 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $2 for seniors 60+. The May menu should be up in a couple of days.