Free
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April 2021 /HYKJVYL -VY :VM[IHSS :LL 7HNL
Elko Edition Rea Reaching ch Elkhart, Kosciusko, Noble And LaGrange Counties Vol. 34, No. 2
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
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provides opportunities for seniors %\ '$9,' +$=/(',1( 6WDII :ULWHU In 1968, church leaders formed Church Community Services to more effectively meet the needs of Elkhart County residents. And while its services are geared to the population at large, seniors have also benefited, particularly through the food pantry, delivery of groceries to the homebound and financial services, CCS is also a great outlet for seniors looking for ways to stay active in the community, with volunteer opportunities at the food pantry, community gardens and more. In mid-January 2021, CCS hired Community Outreach Director Yolo Lopez DeMarco. Among her responsibilities is overseeing the implementation of an initiative to more effectively reach the large Latinx population in Elkhart County. “I hope to provide some vision and guidance to fill the gaps,” she said, making CCS “more inclusive to the broader immigrant community.” Older Spanish speakers, for example, often depend on younger family members or others to interact with the community at large. CCS hopes to reach them more directly with bilingual staff members. DeMarco has begun
meeting with local churches, giving presentations highlighting Church Community Services as well as opportunities it provides for church members to “volunteer as a group.” Though just beginning her tenure, DeMarco already sees opportunities for the older immigrant population. “Gardening is very popular … I think we’re going to get Latinx grandparents who want to be involved with the community,” she predicted. “CCS is an amazing organization that makes a difference in the lives of people every day,” DeMarco stated, and the COVID-19 pandemic helped highlight the needs of the community. For example, CCS food pantry served roughly 1,500 people per month before the pandemic. Since then, said DeMarco, the number has increased. The pantry is open to anybody in Elkhart County, providing nonperishable items and items such as diapers for those with children. The only requirement is to fill out a form indicating income. The pantry also provides volunteer opportunities, with several positions available: organizing food boxes,
DQ\ YROXQWHHUV DW KUHW DUH WZR RI WKH P ( DLO G * DQ IW OH QJ .L NKDUW &RXQW\ ZLWK 0081,7< ³ 'DYLG DQG IDPLOLHV IURP (O DOV GX \ LYL ,QG W DU 6(59,1* 7+( &2 NK (O \ LQ JURFHULHV RQFH HYHU 6HUYLFHV IRRG SDQWU LEOH WR VKRS IRU IUHH OLJ H UH D LGH JX W\ &KXUFK &RPPXQLW\ HU RY RI WKH IHGHUDO S DQ LQFRPH EHORZ G PRQWK 3KRWR SURYLGH of those jobs were lost during the pandemic. “It’s so much interviewing families, checkhelp church groups and service worse than the recession, at ing expiration dates and more. organizations start their own least then people didn’t have “A lot of our volunteers are community gardens. to worry about their health seniors,” DeMarco observed. Church Community Serand that of their loved ones From April through Septem- vices has also been awarded on top of everything else,” said ber, community gardens, along several grants to help address Vonda Horst, CCS financial with a greenhouse on CCS the increased need for emerservices director. CCS can property, also provide fresh gency financial help, includhelp those who qualify make produce to the pantry. And the ing funding from the United ends meet by assisting with Seed to Feed program teaches Way of Elkhart and LaGrange mortgages, utilities and other young people how to grow their counties’ Thrive Grant and payments. own food. This in turn provides the Community Development For information on CCS proopportunities to seniors inBlock Grant through the City grams and volunteer opportuterested in becoming “partner of Elkhart. nities or to donate, visit www. gardeners,” imparting their Many seniors continue to churchcommunityservices.org, knowledge and experience to hold jobs past retirement age their Facebook page or call community youth. CCS will to make ends meet and many (574) 295-3673.
Worried? About The Costs Of Long-Term Care? About Losing Your Home And Life Savings? We Can Help! 1. Nearly half of all seniors will spend time in a nursing home.
4. There are effective, proven strategies to help preserve your assets from spend-downs.
2. Locally, nursing homes cost about $7,500 per month.
5. These strategies are available to you, even if you do not have long-term care insurance.
3. Many seniors lose their homes and life savings to nursing home costs. 6. These and other strategies can also help to avoid will contests and probate.
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(574) 703-3322
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