GREENFIELD – A new upcoming event will offer local senior residents insight into resources in Hancock County.
The inaugural Senior Resource Fair is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. Oct. 14 at Gateway Hancock Health. The free event will offer door prizes, refreshments, vendor booths and opportunities to learn about mental health, free community offerings, local senior social groups, support groups, fitness, volunteering opportunities and more.
It’s hosted by the Hancock County Older Adult Forum, a fairly new nonprofit that stemmed from the former HC Council on Aging.
Teri Gottschalk, vice chair of the forum and education support and outreach navigator for Hancock Health, said the group wanted to have a way to bring awareness to resources available for older adults in the community. Gateway is a resource for low-cost screenings and tests, so bringing older residents there made sense.
“We thought maybe providing a resource fair and hosting it at Gateway to heighten the awareness that there is a low-cost alternative for screenings and ongoing things, and also inviting nonprofits to have information available,” she said.
Organizations at the event will include Hancock County Senior Services, Hancock County Law Enforcement, Meals on Wheels of Hancock County, CICOA, Smart 911, an Elder Law Attorney, Hancock Health Connection Center, Hancock Wellness Centers, and more.
The statewide Council on Aging disbanded in 2018, requiring local groups to change their name and come up with their own funding sources and boards.
“Several of us thought it was important that Hancock County continue to have that voice for older adults, so we formed our own 501(c3) 3 (nonprofit group) which we call the Hancock County Older Adult Forum,” she said.
In recent years, they’ve hosted events in all corners of the county on fraud and social media awareness. Gottschalk said their goal is to host events in several parts of the county for residents who may struggle traveling far, and she’s hopeful the event at Gateway will be centrally located to several.
Gateway Hancock Health is located at 6189 W. John L. Modglin Drive, Greenfield, at the intersection of I-70 and CR 600 West.
“It’s hard to know what the turnout is going to be, but hopefully the different agencies promoting it, we hope to get the word out that it is available and we’re hoping for a nice turnout that is beneficial to that target audience we’re shooting for,” she said.
