Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Kankakee Valley Park District Activities
All seniors from Kankakee County are welcome to play bridge and drink coffee and tea. “The Bridge” program takes place on Mondays, starting at 9:30 a.m. and finishing around noon; and on Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. until 3 or 4 p.m.. Seniors meet at Jeffers Park at221 Water Street. For more information, call (815) 939-1311.
Kankakee County Community Services Inc.
Located at 657 E. Court St. is the Senior Activity Center. Seniors play bingo and pool on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. A group of line-dancers come in every Tuesday at 10 a.m., which is open to senior citizens. Also, educational services are provided for seniors on subjects such as Rules of the Road and Medicare. They are hosting the 2009 Farmer’s Market. Also, they offer a food pantry service for senior citizens and the community in general. There are also Kankakee County Senior services in Pembroke, Reddick, and Limestone. For more information, contact Donna Sample at (815) 933-7883 ext. 222.
Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Coordinates a network of services, information, and programs that are designed to help educate seniors so that they can live independently. The Agency answers questions on state funding, Medicare, housing options, employment opportunities and many other things. To take advantage of this service, call (815) 939-0727.
Kankakee County TRIAD for Seniors
The purpose of Kankakee County TRIAD for Seniors is to improve the quality of life for older adults in Kankakee County. This is accomplished through effective crime prevention and education programs for older community members. The group meets at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Provena Heritage Village, 901 N. Entrance Avenue, Kankakee. The meetings are free. For more information, contact Ann Kotter at (815) 932-1022 or at bgkotter@sbcglobal.net.
Riverside Senior Advantage
Riverside offers this free program to all seniors who wish to sign up. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Friday. Lunches are offered once a month. Physicians attend the meetings to give talks about prominent health issues of the elderly, and participants. For more information, contact front desk at (815) 935-7488.
Prairie State Legal Services Inc.
A nonprofit organization that offers free legal advice to low-income families as well as seniors over 60. If anyone is interested, call Nancy Hinton at (815) 935-2750. Visit their office at 191 South Chicago Ave., Kankakee.
YMCA Programs
The YMCA welcomes all senior citizens to participate in exercise classes in their Active Older Adult program. The YMCA's Active Older Adult program hosts numerous activities for senior citizens who are not members. They offer Senior Volunteer Breakfasts quarterly, organize 3-4 trips for seniors a year, and host parties for seniors for birthdays and holidays. The YMCA also offers exercise programs for seniors as well. For more information call Chad Dilley at 933-1741, ext. 232. The YMCA has membership rates benefitng senior citizens and others based on their yearly household income. (815) 937-4950 main office.
City of Kankakee Senior Services
This service offers a program called Senior AIDES which aims to re-educate and to find jobs for low-income seniors who want to re-enter the work force. Seniors are placed in various nonprofit or government jobs around the area and typically work 20-hour weeks. The program is available to Kankakee County seniors 55 and older who meet the income guidelines and are able to perform job assignments. It is housed at the John R. Tate Advocacy Center at 850 North Hobbie Ave. in Kankakee. Anyone interested can call Julie Choquette at (815) 937-4950.
Bourbonnais Township Park District Programs
Senior picnic and concerts: Each year, the Park District hosts a picnic dinner at Perry Farm followed by a concert.
Card Nights
Tuesdays, euchre;Thursdays, euchre; Friday, pinochle. All card nights are scheduled from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Recreation Station on 770 East Franklin at in Bradley. Card nights are free.
Munch n’ Mingle
$6 per person fee. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to noon and Bingo is from noon until 2 p.m.
Prize Bingo
Walk away with a prize. It is held once a month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission costs $3 for resident seniors of Bourbonnais and Bradley and $4 dollars for nonresidents. Snacks and coffee are served. They also have a transportation service that costs $5 round-trip, a service offered to residents only from Bourbonnais Township.
Dine ’n Dash
A program where a group of seniors dine at a different restaurant each month. The cost is $8 for the resident seniors and $10 for nonresidents. The fee includes the round-trip ride from the Recreation Station. Meals are not covered in the costs.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities Senior Services has many programs to help seniors age 60 and older maintain their independence for as long as possible. Seniors and their caregivers can receive information and assistance by phone or in person. Senior case managers provide comprehensive assessment and coordination of services designed to maximize the older person’s independence in the home. Caregiver programs are offered to help those in the role of providing care and support for their older relatives and friends. The agency also provides caring professionals to help determine the services most needed to stop elder abuse; protect the person who has suffered from the abuse, and assist the individual in the healing process. Catholic Charities serves people of all faiths and beliefs in seven counties.
Several Catholic Charities programs for seniors provide volunteer opportunities as well. The Money Management Program links volunteers with older adults who are having difficulty addressing their basic money management needs. The Senior Companion Program provides friendly visitors, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program links volunteer skills with program needs in the community.
For information on any of these programs contact Catholic Charities Information & Assistance at (815) 932-1921. After hours an answering service is available to take your requests for information, or contact them by email at dbaldauff@cc-doj.org. The agency's Web site is
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Senior Fair
Presented by
Senior Fair is a free public event designed for people over 50 and their families. It includes over 30 exhibits, educational seminars, workshops, entertainment and prizes. The Seventh Annual Senior Fair is scheduled for May 11, 2010, times still to be determined, at the Hilton Garden Inn & RiverStone Conference Center off I-57, Exit 308, Kankakee, IL.
Tribute to Seniors is a new event that will be organized by The Daily Journal and held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Oct. 6.