NASHUA — Seven Nashua- area residents and one organization were honored recently for their significant volunteer service to seniors in the community during the annual “Book of Golden Deeds” breakfast sponsored by the Breakfast Exchange Club of Nashua.

The honorees were nominated by organizations that provide services to the elderly in Greater Nashua. Each nominee received a certificate of appreciation from the club.

Gerrie Porter of Amherst received the 2012 Golden Deeds Award in the individual category. Porter was nominated by Kelly Clark, executive director of AARP New Hampshire. As a former officer for the Friends of the Amherst Library, Porter was involved in fundraising efforts, volunteer recognition events and student art shows. She is past president of the Milford Women’s Club and supervisor of the Voter Checklist. She also is an active AARP volunteer.

The RSVP Fixit Corps, a program of Southern New Hampshire Services, received the Golden Deeds Award in the organization category. RSVP Fixit Corps volunteers do minor repairs at the homes of low-income seniors who are either physically or financially unable to do the repairs themselves.

When announcing the winner, Frank Belfsky, chairman of the Golden Deeds planning committee, said: “On behalf of the club and the Golden Deeds committee, I want to thank everyone who took the time to make a nomination and the volunteers who spend hours upon hours enriching the lives of the seniors living in our community.”

The other nominees were:

-- Delores Davis of RISE — Rivier Institute for Senior Education, nominated by Ruth Morgan

-- Steven Zedeck of the Nashua Senior Activity Center, nominated by Jeanne Marcoux

-- Jackie Janis of St. Joseph Community Services Meals on Wheels, nominated by Ruth Morgan

-- Maureen Rowntree of Senior Companions, nominated by Ruth Morgan

-- Deborah Sandall of The Caregivers, nominated by Kelly Urban

-- Armande Labrie of The Arbors of Bedford, nominated by Cheryl Tefft

The club is one of 700 Breakfast Exchange clubs in the United States and Puerto Rico. The local club focuses on community service projects that benefit the area’s elderly, such as the Heat Up/Cool Down Energy Assistance Program and Senior Shopping Days.

The club meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at the Hunt Community, 10 Allds St. The meetings begin at 8 a.m. and feature a continental breakfast. New members are always welcome. For more information, call Belfsky at 546-6060.

Walk-athons benefit Meals on Wheels programs

MANCHESTER — Dozens of people gathered in Livingston Park recently for the first March for Meals, a walk-a-thon to benefit St. Joseph Community Services Meals on Wheels program.

SJCS, along with the Meals on Wheels programs of Community Action Program Belknap in Merrimack County, Ossipee Concerned Citizens, Tri-County Community Action Program and Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, combined fundraising efforts in Manchester, Concord and Lincoln to raise contributions and awareness statewide for the vital program.

The staff of these organizations are thanking the hundreds of folks who participated in the three walks for Meals on Wheels and the sponsors who made the fundraiser possible.

SJCS last year served 432,407 meals and 3,411 people in Hillsborough County. During the past 34 years, SJCS says it has provided $10.8 million meals to people in need of food, a smile and a safety check. By providing nutritious meals and a connection to the community, these visits empower older and disabled adults to continue to live in their own homes, SJCS says.

To donate or volunteer, contact SJCS at 424-9967 or MealsOnWheelsNH.org.

Cashin center to host Medicare talks, shoe clinic

MANCHESTER — The William Cashin Senior Center, 151 Douglas St., will host a “New to Medicare Workshop” sponsored by ServiceLink from 2 to 4 p.m. Mondays, July 16 and Aug. 20.

A Medicare coordinator will guide seniors through the ins and outs of applying for Medicare and receiving benefits and also will be available to answer questions. To reserve a space, call Michelle at 644-2240.

A shoe clinic for diabetics on Medicare is planned Wednesday at the center.

Medicare will pay for one pair of therapeutic shoes, plus inserts, each calendar year. Seniors can pick a shoe style and get measured for shoes at the clinic.

Seniors should bring Medicare and insurance information, plus their doctor’s name, address and phone number. For an appointment, call 828-6762.

Advance directives focus of talk today in Nashua

NASHUA — Jennifer Fisher of the Patient and Family Services Department of Southern New Hampshire Medical Center will discuss planning for end-of-life care during a program at 1 p.m. today at the Nashua Senior Activity Center, 70 Temple St..

The delicate subject is one few like to think about, but for people responsible for making critical decisions when a loved one can no longer speak for himself, not knowing that person’s wishes through an advance directive can be devastating.

Fisher will explain the legal form that communicates preferences about using life-sustaining treatment and medically administered nutrition and hydration. She will discuss both the durable power of attorney for health care and the living will.

For more information, call Beth Todgham, Seniors Count-Nashua facilitator, at 889-3440 ext. 629. The workshop is one of a series of free programs offered the second Monday of each month at the center. The workshops are designed to provide people with information and resources available in the community as they age.