WHITESIDE COUNTY SENIOR CENTER
1207 WEST NINTH STREET, STERLING, IL 61081 www.whitesideseniorcenter.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO STUDY AND INVENTORY THE NEEDS AND WELFARE OF THE WHITESIDE COUNTY CITIZENS. TO DETERMINE WHICH AREAS OF NEED ARE BEING MET AND TO DECIDE WHAT SERVICES ARE NOT BEING MET AND SHOULD BE DEVELOPED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WHITESIDE COUNTY CITIZENS.TO COORDINATE SERVICES WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT AND FOR PROFIT AGENCIES AND COMPANIES TO PROVIDE GOODS, SERVICES, INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE TO CITIZENS OF WHITESIDE COUNTY. TO MAKE THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND EXISTING AGENCIES AWARE OF THE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF WHITESIDE COUNTY CITIZENS.TO SERVE AS MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH ORGANIZATIONS CAN EXCHANGE INFORMATION, COORDINATE PROGRAMS AND ENGAGE IN JOINT ENDEAVORS FOR WHITESIDE COUNTY CITIZENS.TO PROMOTE AND STIMULATE PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP WHITESIDE COUNTY CITIZENS ENJOY MORE MEANINGFUL LIVES.

TO SERVE THE NEEDS AND WELFARE OF THE WHITESIDE COUNTY CITIZENS.

TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM - WHITESIDE COUNTY SENIOR CENTER MANAGES AND OPERATES WHITESIDE COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WHITESIDE COUNTY. THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS PROVIDED TO WHITESIDE COUNTY (GRANTEE) AND WHITESIDE COUNTY CONTRACTS WITH WHITESIDE COUNTY SENIOR CENTER FOR MANAGEMENT AND DAILY OPERATION OF 18 VEHICLES CONSISTING OF THREE MINIVANS, SEVEN 12 AND SEVEN 14 PASSENGER VEHICLES AND A 22 PASSENGER BUS. THIS ON-DEMAND TRANSIT SYSTEM IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF WHITESIDE COUNTY. DAILY TRIPS INCLUDE LOCAL DESTINATIONS, COUNTY-WIDE DESTINATIONS AND PERIODIC TRIPS TO DIXON, ROCKFORD, AND ADJOINING COMMUNITIES IN IOWA FOR MEDICAL CARE AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES. COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM THEIR JOBS, COMMUNITY FACILITIES, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES PROVIDING NEEDED ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, MEDICAL FACILITIES, GROCERY STORES, LOCAL SHOPPING MALLS, AND OTHER SITES TO ACQUIRE NEEDED SERVICES, PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES AND ATTENDING EVENTS IN ORDER TO REDUCE ISOLATION AND PROMOTE SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT LIVING.

INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AND PHARMACEUTICAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS - DIRECT PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF AN OLDER PERSON IN CONNECTION WITH AVAILABLE PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES AND RESOURCES WHICH MEET THE INDIVIDUAL'S EXPRESSED NEEDS AND THE LINKAGE AND FOLLOW-UP WITH APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES OR SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE IS DELIVERED. PROVIDES ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS REGARDING COMMUNITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL SOURCES SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY, ILLINOIS SENIOR CARE, ILLINOIS CARES, MEDICARE, HOUSING, AND OTHER SENIOR ISSUES. IN ADDITION "HOME VISITS" TO OLDER PERSONS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND TO INFORM PERSONS OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND BENEFIT PROGRAMS. ALSO TO PROVIDE HELP WITH SENIOR SERVICES SUCH AS HELPING PERSONS FIND OUT IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES, COMPLETING AND UNDERSTANDING FORMS, PROVIDE INFORMATION ON SERVICES AVAILABLE, PROVIDE INFORMATION ON AND REFERRALS TO LIFESCAPE, TRI COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES COUNCIL, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, AND OTHER AVAILABLE SERVICES. MEAL PROGRAM AND FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM - THE MEAL PROGRAM PROVIDES DAILY NUTRITIONALLY PREPARED MEALS AT THE SENIOR CENTER. MEALS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR A NOMINAL SUGGESTED DONATION. MEALS ARE SERVED FROM 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. 5 DAYS PER WEEK. THE FOOD PANTRY (COMMODITIES) PROGRAM DISTRIBUTIONS ARE PROVIDED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL MEETING THE INCOME GUIDELINES MANDATED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW AS THE NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTINUES TO RISE IN OUR AREA. EMPORIUM THRIFT CENTER - THE EMPORIUM THRIFT CENTER PROVIDES USED CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, FURNITURE, ETC. FOR SALE TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL OF THE ITEMS ARE DONATED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, VOLUNTEERS SORT, CLEAN AND REFURBISH THE ITEMS AND PLACE THEM FOR SALE TO THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR QUALITY USED ITEMS. FREQUENT SPECIAL SALES ALLOW THOSE IN NEED TO PURCHASE LARGER QUANTITIES OF ITEMS FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE HAVE 18 VOLUNTEERS WHO MANAGE, OPERATE, AND OVERSEE THE EMPORIUM THRIFT CENTER. THANKS TO THE GREAT VOLUNTEER STAFF, THE EMPORIUM THRIFT CENTER IS ABLE TO GENERATE REVENUE TO HELP ASSIST WITH THE GENERAL OPERATION OF THE SENIOR CENTER AND PROGRAMS THAT DO NOT GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO COVER THEIR EXPENSES.OTHER PROGRAMS - OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE CENTER INCLUDE THE PACKET OF LIFE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES PACKETS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO COMPLETE AND INCLUDE EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE INFORMATION, ILLINOIS TELECOMMUNICATION ACCESS CORPORATION (ITAC) PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES TELEPHONES TO HEARING IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED BY THE CENTER TO ALLOW SENIORS A PLACE TO SOCIALIZE AND HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER. THE CENTER'S COMPUTER LAB OFFERS INDIVIDUAL COMPUTING CLASSES AND PERSONAL ASSISTANCE TO SENIORS. THE VOLUNTEER STAFF OPERATES THE LAB FROM 8 AM-4 PM DAILY AND THEY PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL COMPUTER INSTRUCTION TO SENIORS. THE COMPUTER STAFF ASSISTS SENIORS WITH SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ISSUES. THE LAB IS OPEN DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS SO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES CAN DROP IN AND USE THE LAB TO CHECK EMAILS OR OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET.

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