Putnam County Community Center

Longtime staff member Shauna Greenwood (left), who serves as the congregate meal site manager, and PCCC director Michelle Halm (right) said they love getting to know all the people who stop by the center.

There’s Always a Friendly Face at the Putnam County Community Center

A meeting place for meals, activities, resources, and companionship

Story and photos by Shannon Serpette

TThe first thing a visitor to Putnam County Community Center in Standard notices is how homey it is. Walking through the doors, you feel welcomed immediately and charmed by the warmth and décor of the meal room. Unfortunately, because of the coronavirus, that gathering room has been closed for a while. While the pandemic may have changed how attendees and

PCCC staff communicate, the staff has found ways to continue providing the social interactions and services the seniors in Putnam County and beyond have come to depend upon.

“It’s been a challenge. At this point, this is our new normal,” Michelle Halm, executive director of PCCC, said.

When PCCC was still allowed to have meals and activities onsite, there might be anywhere from 15 to 40 people attending each day, Halm said. The challenge was to continue with those services in the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic.

Halm gave a rundown of the community center’s services while adding that their funding is specifically for those 60 and over. Here are some of the things PCCC can help seniors with.

MEALS

Pre-pandemic, lunch was offered five days a week at the site. While meals at the center carry a suggested donation, if a person can’t

Senior citizens experiencing food insecurity can stop by the entrance to Putnam County Community Center in Standard to take enough food to get them through the day. The Little Free Pantry in a Pinch is a project implemented and stocked by Putnam County Rotary. The pantry area is open 24 hours a day and has been heavily used since it launched, Michelle Halm, director of Putnam County Community Center, said.

This popular sign in the Putnam County Community Center in Standard lists all the communities in the county. But PCCC also serves people from other communities, with visitors also stopping by from Leonore and Tonica.

pay, they are still welcome to eat.

“Our meals are provided at no cost. No one is ever denied a service on inability to pay,” Halm said.

Although the congregate meal site at PCCC has temporarily suspended on-site meals because of the pandemic, they have been able to provide home-delivered meals through Mom’s Meals, she said. The meals can conform to dietary restrictions for those who are under special diets.

Through Mom’s Meals, they were able to select how many meals they wanted to be delivered per week for those who had signed up.

“We did five meals per week,” Halm said, adding that was the number of meals per week the congregate meal service would have normally provided anyway.

To fill in the cracks for seniors who might be facing hunger or suffering from food insecurity, the Putnam County Rotary set up and continually stock The Little Free Pantry in a Pinch. The pantry area, which is located at the entrance to PCCC and is open 24 hours a day, has been heavily used since it launched, Halm said. Those who are hungry can stop by the pantry and take enough food to get them by for the day, and they can use the food pantry as often as needed.

HELP WITH MEDICARE

As a certified Senior Health Insurance Program site, PCCC can assist people with Medicare. The help they offer with Medicare has saved over 66 people a total of more than $145,000, according to Halm.

Medicare and Medicaid are complicated programs that can be confusing for seniors.

“We can answer those questions for them,” Halm said. “We can help you apply for Medicaid.”

FINDING RESOURCES

If those 60 or older are struggling with an issue and need help, the community center can help.

“We’re basically a resource center,” Halm said.

They have a staff member dedicated to helping people find information and assistance with benefits, services, or even money-saving issues.

There is also a community outreach staff member who goes into people’s homes to make sure everything is going well and identifies those who may be at risk. Those services have been more limited because of the pandemic, however, but the staff is doing their best to serve the public while adhering to safety regulations.

PCCC also offers family caregiver support.

When they can’t help a person directly, they can point them in the right direction so they do get the assistance they need.

ACTIVITIES

Shauna Greenwood, the congregate meal site manager and activities director, helps line up interesting programs and activities for attendees. They’ll do crafts, Bingo, and of course, meet for meals where they can socialize.

In 2020, PCCC was able to get free tablets and one year of internet usage for senior citizens through Illinois Care Connections. That has allowed PCCC to continue their programs virtually while they’ve been unable to meet in person during the pandemic. They try to help people stay busy, engaged, and socializing with things like take-home crafts, an online book club with meetings held through Zoom, and other virtual activities.

“It took a while to get their devices,” Halm said.

The devices were pre-loaded with all the essentials seniors would need, such as Zoom, which helped those who aren’t tech-savvy.

“The tablets came with a very user-friendly manual,” she said, adding that it was fun to see the seniors learning how to use the devices.

Greenwood said the virtual book club has been an enjoyable

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FROM PAGE 17 learning experience for those involved.

“We let the participants each choose a book,” she said.

Jean Skutt of Granville has been going to PCCC for years and is part of the online book club PCCC established.

“I really do enjoy the book club,” Skutt said. “They bring me the books. If the book is interesting, I can read it in one night.”

Skutt, who was given a device to use through the program facilitated by PCCC, said she had no problem adjusting to the technology.

PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION

PCCC is a partner of Bureau-Putnam Area Rural Transit (B-PART) which allows them to provide transportation for area seniors who need it.

That’s a huge help for seniors who need to get to medical appointments and other places but have no way to get there.

LENDING OUT MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

It’s no secret that ailments happen more frequently as a person ages. Buying all the medical equipment you need can get expensive for seniors and causes a financial strain for those on a tight budget. PCCC can help with that, too.

“We have a medical lending closet,” Halm said.

The items can be borrowed at no cost, and there’s no time limit as to how long you can keep the equipment. That can save seniors the need to buy expensive equipment such

READING MATERIALS

While the virtual book club is going strong, some seniors devour books and are constantly looking for new material. For seniors who need something to read, the Standard branch of the Putnam County Library District is housed in the community center.

SOCIALIZATION AND FRIENDSHIP

The virtual book club came at a good time for Skutt because she had an accident last year that left her recovering at home, unable to leave until early April of 2021.

“I haven’t been able to leave the house,” she said. “Some people came to visit me, but not many. It’s been nice to see the people on the i-Pad.”

For Skutt, the best thing about the community center is the people she meets.

“I enjoy the friendships we’ve had,” she said.

Skutt also praised the staff who give the community center its welcoming atmosphere.

“Michelle is wonderful. She’s real sweet,” she said.

Halm said the best part of her job is meeting all the people who walk through the community center’s doors. The challenges of the pandemic have kept her busy, and she admits to having a little jealousy when her coworkers get to interact with the seniors and she can’t because she’s busy with administrative work.

“The most stressful part was the behind-the-scenes stuff,” Halm said, adding that she spent a lot of time keeping up with changing regulations and working to maintain the funding.

She knows it’s important to stay working hard so she can do her best for the seniors.

“I feel like we help people every day, and that gives me such a good feeling,” Halm said.

Halm said Greenwood has stayed in constant contact with the seniors and makes sure they are getting together virtually and staying fed.

“Shauna’s been awesome,” she said. “I go home every day so proud of my staff.”

Greenwood enjoys working with Halm as well and loves talking with the seniors and helping them in any way she can.

“They’re just all sweet people,” Greenwood said.

Putnam County Community Center has partnered with Bureau and Putnam Area Rural Transit (BPART) to provide rides for senior citizens who need them in Putnam County.

Seniors who need medical equipment can borrow some out of the lending closet at PCCC. They don’t charge a fee, and the equipment can be borrowed as long as it is needed. They have a lot to choose from, including wheelchairs, walkers, and more.

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