Sherwood Oaks staff Jesse Komara and Chris Olson serve senior Sherwood residents and staff Thursday during an indoor farmers market. The event featured fall treats prepared by Sherwood chefs and gave residents a chance to socialize while social distancing.

There are many annual traditions that COVID-19 has knocked for a loop this year. Some of those traditions have been canceled. Others have adapted.

The farmers markets at Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry Township is an example of the latter.

“We've been doing this for about five years,” said Beverly Puglia, director of dining services. “It's morphed.”

On Thursday, senior residents and staff were invited to tour an indoor farmers market of food prepared by Sherwood Oaks' chefs. For sale were many fall goodies, such as loaves of bread, apple strudel, homemade pasta, chocolate bark and chili.

“Almost everything sold out,” Puglia said.

Overall, the market raised about $600, about enough for Sherwood Oaks to cover the cost of running the market.But the event wasn't about product sales, according to Puglia. It was about providing residents with a safe environment for socializing.“It's just a new world,” Puglia said. “It really takes a village to do anything right now.”The market attracted roughly 60 residents, who shopped in the Sherwood Oaks lobby at assigned times. This allowed Sherwood staff to maintain pandemic precautions. Residents were screened for symptoms, and were then provided with a shopping bag and permitted to tour the market.Sherwood staff hosted a similar event in early September, according to Puglia. She said at that time, the event lost some of its “flavor” to fears initiated by the pandemic.But Thursday's event went much better, according to Puglia. Residents and staff are settled into the pandemic lifestyle and know what to expect.“You could feel the beat of the event again,” Puglia said. “The cycle of life goes on.”Puglia said as a member of the Sherwood Oaks staff, she's part of a community that continues looking for ways to cheer residents.This is particularly important during the approaching holiday season, according to Puglia.Of the 280 independent living residents who call Sherwood Oaks home, about 200 are having their meals delivered.Finding new ways to offer safe, communal dining can be tricky.Puglia said events like the market, which balance socialization and social distancing, help.“We're using that as a guide for how we can make the holidays less lonely,” Puglia said.As a UPMC entity, Sherwood Oaks is restricting public visits for safety reasons.However, Puglia said the community is welcome to reach out to Sherwood Oaks residents and staff by sending cards, student artwork and similar expressions of support.For more information, call 724-776-8100.

"Sherwood Oaks resident Barbara Scruggs (left) watched Chris Olson, a sous chef, do a live cooking demonstration during one of the senior community's indoor farmers markets Oct. 15. The farmers market was coordinated by Cura, the dining services partner of Sherwood Oaks, and allowed residents and staff a chance to socialize."