Finding Tech Literacy And Battling Senior Scamming Fraud
BY ISAIAH FRIZZELL
What do you do when you need help with these machines we have essentially become surrounded by? What if you get a text or email that stinks of fraud? Contact Cheri!
Enter Cheri Reinke: Educator and Life Management for Seniors
It is abundantly clear upon meeting Cheri Reinke that her knowledge and compassion have fully joined and you’re dealing with a woman you want to get to know. Reinke clearly enjoys assisting people, especially seniors who are not necessarily enamored with or engaged in the march of ‘progress’ and technology, and need help with basic or complex things, one of which, sadly, is scammers.
Reinke and husband Langdon moved to the Wood River Valley about four years ago. Cheri Reinke is from Wisconsin (Packers fan!) and husband Langdon Reinke hails from Twin Falls. He’s been in ministry for over 30 years while his father has been a pastor at Valley of Peace Lutheran Church, in Hailey, for nearly 14 years.
Reinke, a lifelong educator, got her master’s degree n Educational Technology from Concordia University. “I’ve taught for almost 30 years,” she said. They’d intended to stay in the Valley for a few months to relax and, like so many, fell in love with the delightful people of this amazing community.
Reinke’s heart is in it, full tilt. “When we moved to the Valley, I decided I didn’t want to go back into the classroom,” she said, ”so I started teaching technology to seniors. After a while, I then moved into Sun Valley Senior Support, where I help with life management and technology and I am an advocate for seniors in the Valley. I make sure that they have those services they need. I really love what I do and just love working with seniors. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the landscape is so endearingly gorgeous. “It’s like we live in a postcard,” Reinke exclaimed about her love of our community and the lifestyle.
The Purity of Helping Others
“I care for my clients and never, ever charge if they’re being scammed.” Scamming is a constant threat these days and if you get texts you don’t know, don’t respond, at all. Weird phone calls? Never give out your info, and, in the age of AI, even your voice can be cloned, so resist talking to any clearly unusual number.
Reinke is skilled in everything Windows and Mac, most AI and, of course, basic tech support that many need, especially now that there are new demands put on Social Security or signing up for just about anything. Need a place to rent? Reinke likely knows someone. She often teaches for a few hours, free, at the Hailey Public Library and is staff at Bellevue Public Library for those in need.
Reinke can help with any issue you face, often refers friends when she doesn’t have the time (she’s booked constantly) and as well hosts a weekly home church, out of her house, where often 15 or more people show up to eat and talk Jesus, the Bible and morality based on that most important, and often neglected, spiritual component of life.
When, Where, How
When not teaching, with four kids living in the Northwest, Reinke is at peace. “I love travelling with my husband and spending time with my Phoebe, my Labradoodle.” Is this a friends reference? I do believe so.
Reinke is a good friend, confidant and simply wonderful just to talk with.
She can be found online at: https://www.sunvalleyseniorsupport.com/
Quickly email her: cheri@sunvalleyseniorsupport.com
