By Kendra Raymond
Seniors in Raymond are fortunate to have access to the Age Friendly Raymond (AFR) program right at their fingertips. Returning from a long hiatus following the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, the program has re-emerged with a newly reimagined vision and more opportunities than ever.
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| Jordan Bay Place residents Joan and Barbara gather for the arrival of a visit from Age Friendly Raymond volunteers. SUBMITTED PHOTOS |
Age Friendly Raymond Coordinator Debby Tarr is excited to get the program back on its feet.
“Our mission is to involve all ages and abilities to thrive, work, play, and do business. We are inclusive and respectful of all generations,” said Tarr. “It is the hope of AFR to address the needs of every resident of Raymond in the future. “When our volunteer base grows, we will be able to be more active for more members of our community.”
Tarr said that she is spearheading the effort now and is grateful for the assistance and support from Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Crocker and State Rep. Jessica Fay.
“I am slowly adding more volunteers, so if we hear of a need in our community, we can help,” said Tarr. “Our goal now is to find more seniors who would be interested in what we are providing, as well as volunteers to help us make this happen!” said Tarr. “We are also looking into transportations options – which is a top priority.”
The Age Friendly Raymond website details that “Raymond is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, an international effort launched in 2006 to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization.”
Tarr is busy in her role.
“I am a retired Raymond teacher, and after subbing for 6 1/2 years after retiring, I wanted to help our community in another way,” said Tarr. “In February 2024, a group of four of us met to start it back up.”
On any given day, Tarr is bustling here and there, attending to the needs of Raymond seniors.
“I'm basically on my own right now, but I'm picking up a volunteer here and there,” Tarr said. “I just have to remind myself that this has only been up and running again for 6 months! I’m encouraged about what AFR has accomplished so far.”
Crocker provides support for the program and is encouraged about its resurgence.
“The Parks and Recreation Department helps AFR with promoting existing programs and creating new ones,” he said. “We have helped coordinate Bingo with Debby Tarr, the Age Friendly Raymond Coordinator, who runs the programs. We are looking to partner up to provide All Ages Bingo and a Senior Day Trip to the Fryeburg Fair.”
Crocker and Tarr work in conjunction to develop AFR programs.
“Joe and I have been working closely together. He has his focus mostly on the younger ages, and I have sought out seniors, because I knew the group used to run bingo at our senior housing building, Jordan Bay Place,” she said.
According to Tarr, AFR is starting bingo back up on Sept. 30 for seniors who would like to attend. Bingo will be held on the last Monday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Jordan Bay Place on Levy Lane in Raymond and prizes are awarded.
Rev. Brian Donovan, Raymond Village Community Church pastor, is supportive of the revamped program.
“They are going to be doing some really great things. We will be holding All Age Bingo, which a lot of people are excited about,” said Donovan.
Tarr believes in inclusivity for all residents, so she created the All Age Bingo program for everyone to feel welcome. It runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Raymond Village Community Church and started Sept. 11.
Some of the other programs offered by AFR include an age friendly garden and senior library hours. Tarr is also running a cribbage program which has been meeting this summer. The group meets every other week for a couple of hours at a resident’s home. For upcoming dates, refer to the AFR Facebook page.
Looking ahead, Crocker says he is pleased with the exciting upcoming events.
“These programs will be available on our website,” he said. “The best way to hear about new offerings is to create an account on the Parks and Recreation website and click yes, to receive email updates.”
AFR will host a trip to Senior Day at the Fryeburg Fair on Oct. 1. The van will leave Raymond at 9:30 a.m. and leave the fair at 2 p.m. The trip is free for Raymond residents and just $5 for non-residents. Register early as space is limited.
There are eight “domains of livability” highlighted on the AFR website. The program aims to determine the needs of residents while developing appropriate programs to serve the community. These include outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, affordable housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, community life, communication and information, and community and health services.
Tarr is dedicated to the program and encourages community members to help if they are able.
“Please consider volunteering. Community service is so rewarding, and so appreciated,” she said.
To sign up for the AFR newsletter send an email to: agefriendlyraymond@yahoo.com
Volunteers are welcomed and there are many opportunities available. For more information about volunteering, just email the address listed above.
Visit the website at: http://www.agefriendlyraymond.org or check out Age Friendly Raymond on Facebook.
To sign up for events such as Bingo and the Fryeburg Fair trip, visit Raymond Parks and Recreation at: raymond.recdesk.com <
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